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SIX STAR RANCH 


BY THE AUTHOR 

OF 

POLLYANNA: THE GLAD BOOK 

Trade Mark Trade Mark 

POLLYANNA 1 THE QLAD (BOOK - net $1.25 

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TOLLY ANNA GROWS UP: THE SECOND 

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THE PAGE COMPANY 
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“^he chiCistress of Six Star l^anch 


SIX STAR 
RANCH 


By ELEANOR H- PORTER 

n 

Author of 

POLLYANNA: THE GLAD BOOK 

Trade Mark Trade Mark 

POLLYANNA GROWS UP; THE SECOND GLAD BOOK 

Trade Mark Trade”' ' Mark 

MISS BILLY; MISS BILLY'S DECISION 
MISS BILLY— MARRIED. ETC. 


Illustrated by 

R. FARRINGTON ELWELL 

and 

FRANK /. MURCH 



BOSTON ^ THE TAGE 
COMPANY 5 PUBLISHERS 



Copyright, 19 IS 
By The Page Company 

Copyright, 1916 
By The Page Company 

All rights reserved 


Third Impression, January, 1916 


THE COLONIAL PRESS 
C. H. SIM )STON, TJ. S. A. 



JAN 28 1916 


©JI.A420550 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. 

Aunt Sophronia 



PAGE 

I 

II. 

Plans for Texas 



12 

III. 

The Coming of Genevieve . 



28 

IV. 

On the Way .... 



44 

V. 

The Boys Prepare a Welcome 



61 

VI. 

Cordelia Sees a Cowboy 



72 

VII. 

The Ranch House . 



86 

VIII. 

The Mistress of the Six Star Ranch 

99 

IX. 

Reddy and the Broncho 



no 

X. 

Cordelia Goes to Church . 



121 

XI. 

Quentina 



137 

XII. 

The Opening of a Barrel . 



157 

XIII. 

The Prairie — and Moonlight 



171 

XIV. 

A Man and a Mystery . 



i8S 

XV. 

The Alamo 



201 

XVI. 

Tilly Crosses Bridges . 



215 

XVII. 

“ Bertha’s Accident ” 



225 

XVIII. 

The Golden Hours . 



235 

XIX. 

Hermit Toe 



248 

XX. 

XXI. 

The New Boy 

Genevieve Learns Something Not in 
Books 

260 

278 

XXII. 

A Texas “ Missionary ” . 



296 

XXIII. 

Genevieve Goes to Boston . 



307 

XXIV. 

A Brown Dress for Elsie . 



324 

XXV. 

“ When Sunbridge Went to Texas ” 


339 

XXVI. 

A Good-by Party . 



349 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


♦ 


PAGE 

The Mistress of Six Star Ranch Frontispiece 

'‘A TALL, SLENDER GIRL . . . APPEARED AT A 

CAR door” 30 ^ 

‘‘Reddy was right there every time” . . 113 * 

“ ‘ Follow me — quick ! ’ he ordered ” . . 181 ^ 

“ ‘ There, now — look ! ' she added ” . . 207 

“ ‘ How DO YOU DO, Mr. Oliver Holmes/ she 

began ” 265 

“ It WOULD BE something of a walk, the 

WOMAN SAID, as SHE GAVE DIRECTIONS” . 32O ' 






SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER I 

AUNT SOPHRONIA 

The Reverend Thomas Wilson’s sister, Miss 
Sophronia, had come to Sunbridge on a Tuesday 
evening late in June to make her brother’s family 
a long-promised visit. But it was not until the next 
morning that she heard something that sent her to 
her sister-in-law in a burst of astonishment almost 
too great for words. 

“For pity’s sake, Mary, what is this I hear?” 
she demanded. “ Edith insists that her cousin, 
Cordelia, is going to Texas next week — to Texas! 
— Cordelia! ” 

“ Yes, she is, Sophronia,” replied the minister’s 
wife, trying to make her answer sound as cheerful 
and commonplace as she could, and as if Texas were 
in the next room. (It was something of a trial to 

1 


SIX STAR RANCH 


£ 


Mrs. Thomas Wilson that her husband’s sister 
could not seem to understand that she, a minister’s 
wife for eighteen years and the mother of five chil- 
dren, ought to know what was proper and right for 
her orphaned niece to do — at least fully as much 
as should a spinster, who had never brought up 
anything but four cats and a parrot!) Edith is 
quite right. Cordelia is going to Texas next week.” 

But, Mary, are you crazy? To let a child like 
that go all the way from here to Texas — one 
would think New Hampshire and Texas were 
twenty miles apart ! ” 

Mrs. Wilson sighed a little wearily. 

Cordelia isn’t exactly a child, Sophronia , you 
must remember that. She was sixteen last Novem- 
ber; and she’s very self-reliant and capable for her 
age, too. Besides, she isn’t going alone, you know.” 

“ Alone ! ” exclaimed Miss Sophronia. “ Mary, 
surely, the rest that Edith said isn’t true! Those 
other girls aren’t going, too, are they ? — Elsie 
Martin, and that flyaway Tilly Mack, and all? ” 

I think they are, Sophronia.” 

Well, of all the crazy things anybody ever 
heard of ! ” almost groaned the lady. ‘‘ Mary, what 
are you thinking of?” 

I’m thinking of Cordelia,” returned the minis- 
ter’s wife, with a spirit that was as sudden as it was 
unusual. Sophronia, for twelve years, ever since 
she came to me, Cordelia has been just a Big Sister 


SIX STAR RANCH 


3 


in the family; and she’s had to fetch and carry and 
trot and run her little legs off for one after another 
of the children, as well as for her uncle and me. 
You know how good she is, and how conscientious. 
You know how anxious she always is to do exactly 
right. She’s never had a playday, and I’m sure she 
deserves one if ever a girl did! Vacations to her 
have never meant anything but more care and more 
time for housework.” 

Mrs. Wilson paused for breath, then went on 
with renewed vigor. 

“ When this chance came up, Tom and I thought 
at first, of course, just as you did, that it was quite 
out of the question; but — well, we decided to let 
her go. And I haven’t been sorry a minute since. 
She’s Tom’s only brother’s child, but we’ve never 
been able to do much for her, as you know. We 
can let her have this chance, though. And she’s so 
happy — dear child ! ” 

“But what is it? How did it happen? Who’s 
going? Edith’s story sounded so absurd to me I 
could make precious little out of it. She insisted 
that the ‘ Happy X’s ’ were going.” 

The minister’s wife smiled. 

“ It’s the girls’ ‘ Hexagon Club,’ Sophronia. 
They call themselves the ‘ Happy Hexagons.’ There 
are six of them.” 

“ Humph I ” commented Miss Sophronia. “ Who 
are they — besides Cordelia ? ” 


4 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Bertha Brown, Tilly Mack, Alma Lane, Elsie 
Martin, and Genevieve Hartley.” 

“And who?*' frowned Miss Sophronia at the 
last name. 

“ Genevieve Hartley. She is the little Texas girl. 
It is to her ranch they are going.” 

Her ranch!” 

“ Well — her father’s.” 

“ But who is she ? What’s she doing here ? ” 

“ She’s been going to school this winter. She’s 
at the Kennedys’.” 

“ A Texas ranch-girl at the Kennedys’ ! Why, 
they’re nice people 1 ” exclaimed Miss Sophronia, 
opening wide her eyes. 

Mrs. Wilson laughed now outright. 

“ You’d better not let Miss Genevieve hear you 
say ‘ nice ’ in that tone of voice — and in just that 
connection, Sophronia,” she warned her. “ Gene- 
vieve might think you meant to insinuate that there 
weren’t any nice people in Texas — and she’s very 
fond of Texas! ” 

Miss Sophronia smiled grimly. 

“ Well, I don’t mean that, of course. Still, a 
ranch must be sort of wild and — and mus- 
tangy, seems to me; and I was thinking of the 
Kennedys, especially Miss Jane Chick. Imagine 
saying ‘ wild ’ and ‘ Miss Jane ’ in the same 
breath ! ” 

“Yes, I know,” smiled Mrs. Wilson; “and I 


SIX STAR RANCH 


5 

guess Genevieve has been something of a trial — in 
a way ; though they love her dearly ^ both of them. 
She’s a very lovable girl. But she is heedless and 
thoughtless; and, of course, she wasn’t at all used 
to our ways here in the East. Her mother died 
when she was eight years old; since then she has 
been brought up by her father on the ranch. She 
blew into Sunbridge last August like a veritable 
breeze from her own prairies — and the Kennedy 
home isn’t used to breezes — especially Miss Jane. 
I imagine Genevieve did stir things up a little there 
all winter — though she has improved a great deal 
since she came.” 

“ But why did she come in the first place ? ” 

Mrs. Wilson smiled oddly. 

That’s the best part of it,” she said. It seems 
that last April, when Mrs. Kennedy and Miss Chick 
were on their way home from California, they 
stopped in Houston, Texas, a few days, and there 
they met John Hartley and his daughter, Genevieve. 
It appears they had known him years ago when they 
were ‘ the Chick girls,’ and he came to Sunbridge 
to visit relatives. I’ve heard it whispered that he 
was actually a bit in love with one of them, though 
I never heard whether it was Miss Jane, or the one 
who is now the Widow Kennedy. However that 
may be, he was delighted to see them in Texas, 
report says, and to introduce to them his daughter, 
Genevieve.” 


6 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ But that doesn’t explain how the girl came 
here,” frowned Miss Sophronia. 

“ No, but I will,” smiled her sister-in-law. 
“ Fond and proud as Mr. Hartley very plainly was 
of his daughter, it did not take Mrs. Kennedy long 
to see that he was very much disturbed at the sort 
of life she was living at the ranch. That is, he felt 
that the time had come now when she needed some- 
thing that only school, young girl friends, and 
gently-bred women could give her; yet he could 
not bear the thought of sending her off alone to an 
ordinary boarding school. Then is when Mrs. 
Kennedy arose to the occasion; and very quickly 
it was settled that Genevieve should come here to 
her in Sunbridge for school this last winter — 
which she did, and Mrs. Kennedy has been a veri- 
table mother to her ever since. She calls her ‘ Aunt 
Julia.’ ” 

‘‘Hm-m; very fine. I’m sure,” murmured Miss 
Sophronia, a little shortly. And now she’s asked 
these girls home with her — the whole lot of them ! ” 

‘‘Yes; and they’re crazy over it — as you’d 
know they would be.” 

Miss Sophronia sniffed audibly. 

“ Humph ! It’s the parents that are crazy. I’m 
thinking,” she corrected. “ Imagine it — six scat- 
ter-brained children, and all the way to Texas! 
Mary ! ” 

“ Oh, but the father is in the East here, on busi- 


SIX STAE RANCH 


7 


ness, and he goes back with them,” conciliated Mrs. 
Wilson, hastily. ‘‘ Besides, Mrs. Kennedy is going, 
too.” 

Miss Sophronia raised her eyebrows. 

** Well, I can’t say I envy her the thing she’s 
undertaken. Imagine my attempting to chaperon 
six crazy girls all the way from New Hampshire to 
Texas — and then on a ranch for nobody knows 
how long after that ! ” 

“ I can’t imagine — your doing it, Sophronia,” 
rejoined the minister’s wife, demurely. And at the 
meaning emphasis and the twinkle in her eye, Miss 
Sophronia sniffed again audibly. 

“ When do they go ? ” she asked in her stiffest 
manner. 

The first day of July.” 

Indeed ! Very fine. I’m sure. Still — I’ve been 
thinking of the expense. Of course, for a min- 
ister — ” 

Mrs. Wilson bit her lip. After a moment she 
filled the pause that her sister-in-law had left. 

“ I understand, of course, what you mean, So- 
phronia,” she acknowledged. And ministers’ 
families don’t have much money for Texas trips, 
I’ll own. As it happens, however, the trip will cost 
the young people nothing. Mr. Hartley very kindly 
bears all the expenses.” 

He does?” 

Yes. He declares he shall be in the girls’ debt 


8 


SIX STAR RANCH 


even then. You see, last winter Genevieve sprained 
her ankle, and was shut up for weeks in the house. 
It was a very bad sprain, and naturally it came 
pretty hard on such an active, outdoor girl as she 
is. Mrs. Kennedy says she thinks Genevieve and 
all the rest of them would have gone wild if it 
hadn’t been for the girls. One or more of them 
was there every day. Then is when they formed 
their Hexagon Club. It was worth everything to 
Genevieve, as you can imagine; and Mr. Hartley 
declares that nothing he can ever do will half repay 
them. Besides, he wants Genevieve to be with nice 
girls all she can — she’s had so little of girls’ society. 
So he’s asked them to go as his guests.” 

Dear me! Well, he must have some money! ” 

“ He has. Mrs. Kennedy says he is a man of in- 
dependent means, and he has no one but Genevieve 
to spend his money on. So, as for this trip — in his 
whole-hearted, generous Western fashion, he pays 
all the bills himself.” 

'' Hm-m ; very kind. I’m sure,” admitted Miss 
Sophronia, grudgingly. ‘‘ Well, I’m glad, at least, 
that it doesn’t cost you anything.” 

There was a moment’s silence, then Mrs. Wilson 
said, apologetically: 

“ I’m sorry, Sophronia, but I’m afraid you’ll have 
to stand it till the children go — and there’ll be 
something to stand, too; for it’s ‘Texas, Texas, 
Texas,’ from morning till night, everywhere. Gene- 


SIX STAR RANCH 9 


vieve herself is in New Jersey visiting friends, but 
that doesn’t seem to make any difference. The 
whole town is wildly excited over thfe trip. I found 
even little Mrs. Miller, the dressmaker, yesterday 
poring over an old atlas spread out on her cutting- 
table. 

“ ‘ I was just a-lookin’ up where Texas was,’ she 
explained when she saw me. ‘ My ! only think of 
havin’ folks go all that distance — folks I know, I 
mean. I’m sure I’d never dare to go — or let my 
girl.’ ” 

Very sensible woman. I’m sure,” remarked Miss 
Sophronia. 

Mrs. Wilson smiled; but she went on imperturb- 
ably. 

“ Even the little tots haven’t escaped infection. 
Imagine my sensations Sunday when Bettie Barker, 
the primmest Miss Propriety in my infant class, 
asked : ‘ Please, Mis’ Wilson, what is a broncho, and 
how do you bust ’em? ’ ” 

This, indeed, was too much for even Miss So- 
phronia’s gravity. Her lips twitched and relaxed 
in a broad smile. 

‘‘Well, upon my word!” she ejaculated, as she 
rose to her feet to go up-stairs to her room. “ Upon 
my word ! ” 

An hour later, in that same room, Mrs. Wilson, 
going in to place some fresh towels upon the rack, 
found a huge book spread open on Miss Sophronia’s 


10 


SIX STAR RANCH 


bed. The book was number seven in the Reverend 
Thomas Wilson’s most comprehensive encyclopedia ; 
and it was open at the word Texas.” 

Mrs. Wilson smiled and went out, closing the 
door softly behind her. 

It was, indeed, as Mrs. Wilson had said, '' Texas, 
Texas, Texas,” everywhere throughout the town. 
Old atlases were brought down from attics, and old 
geographies were dug out of trunks. Even the dic- 
tionaries showed smudges in the T’s where not over- 
clean fingers had turned hurried pages for possible 
information. The library was besieged at all hou'rs, 
particularly by the Happy Hexagons, for they, of 
course, were the storm-center of the whole thing. 

Ordinarily the club met but once a week; now 
they met daily — even in the absence of their be- 
loved president, Genevieve. Heretofore they had 
met usually in the parsonage; now they met in the 
grove back of the schoolhouse. 

‘‘ It seems more appropriate, somehow,” Elsie 
had declared; “ more sort of airy and — Texasy ! ” 
Yes; and we want to get used to space — wide, 
wide space! Genevieve says it’s all space,” Bertha 
Brown had answered, with a far-reaching fling of 
her arms. 

Ouch ! Bertha ! Just be sure you’ve got the 
space, then, before you get used to it,” retorted Tilly, 
aggrievedly, straightening her hat which had been 
knocked awry by one of the wide-flung arms. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


11 


The Happy Hexagons met, of course, to study 
Texas, and to talk Texas; though, as Bertha 
Brown’s brother, Charlie, somewhat impertinently 
declared, they did not need to meet to talk Texas — 
they did that without any meeting! All of which 
merely meant, of course, retaliated the girls., that 
Charlie was jealous because he also could not go to 
Texas. 


n 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER II 

PLANS FOR TEXAS 

It was a pretty little grove in which the Happy 
Hexagons met to study and to talk Texas. Nor 
were they the only ones that met there. Though 
Harold Day, Alma Lane’s cousin, was not to be of 
the Texas party, the girls invited him to meet with 
them, as he was Texas-born, and was one of Gene- 
vieve’s first friends in Sunbridge. On the outskirts 
of the magic circle, sundry smaller brothers and 
sisters and cousins of the members hung adoringly. 
Even grown men and women came sometimes, and 
stood apart, looking on with what the Happy Hexa- 
gons chose to think were admiring, awestruck eyes 
— which was not a little flattering, though quite 
natural and proper, decided the club. For, of course, 
not every one could go to Texas, to be sure ! 

At the beginning, at least, of each meeting, affairs 
were conducted with the seriousness due to so im- 
portant a subject. In impressive silence the club 
seated itself in a circle; and solemnly Cordelia Wil- 
son, the treasurer, opened the meeting, being (ac- 
cording to Tilly) a ‘‘ perfect image of her uncle in 
the pulpit.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


13 


‘‘ Fellow members, once more we find ourselves 
gathered together for the purpose of the study of 
Texas,” she would begin invariably. And then per- 
haps : “ We will listen to Miss Bertha Brown, please. 
Miss Brown, what new thing — I mean, what new 
features have you discovered about Texas ? ” 

If Miss Brown had something to say — and of 
course she did have something (she would have been 
disgraced, otherwise) — she said it. Then each in 
turn was asked, after which the discussion was open 
to all. 

They were lively meetings. No wonder small 
brothers and sisters and cousins hung entranced on 
every word. No wonder, too, that at last, one day, 
quite carried away with the enthusiasm of the mo- 
ment, they made so bold as to have something to say 
on their own account. It happened like this: 

Texas is the largest state in the Union,” an- 
nounced Bertha Brown, who had been called on first. 
“ It has an area about one twelfth as large as that 
of the whole United States. If all the population of 
the country were placed there, the state would not be 
as thickly settled as the eastern shore of Massachu- 
setts is. Six different flags have waved over it since 
its discovery two hundred years ago : France, Spain, 
Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States of 
America, and the Star Spangled Banner.” 

“ Pooh ! I said most of that two days ago,” mut- 
tered Tilly, not under breath. 


14 SIX STAR RANCH 


“Well, I can’t help it,” pouted Bertha; “there 
isn’t very much new left to say, Tilly Mack, and you 
know it. Besides, I didn’t have a minute’s time this 
morning to look up a single thing.” 

“ Order — order in the court,” rapped Cordelia, 
sharply. 

“ Oh, but it doesn’t matter a. bit if we do say the 
same things,” protested Alma Lane, quickly. (Alma 
was always trying to make peace between com- 
batants. ) I’m sure we shall remember it all the 
better if we do repeat it.” 

“ Of course we shall,” agreed Cordelia, promptly. 
“Now, Alma — I mean Miss Lane — ” (this 
title-giving was brand-new, having been introduced 
as a special mark of dignity fitting to the occasion ; 
and it was not easy to remember !) — “ perhaps you 
will tell us what you have found out.” 

“ Well, the climate is healthful,” began Alma, 
hopefully. “ Texas is less subject to malarial dis- 
eases than any of the other states on the Gulf of 
Mexico. September is the most rainy month; De- 
cember the least. The mean annual temperature 
near the mouth of the Rio Grande is 72° ; while 
along the Red River the mean annual temperature 
is only 80°. In the northwestern part of the state 
the mean annual — ” 

“ Alma, please,” begged Tilly, in mock horror, 
raising both her hands, “ please don’t give us any 
more of those mean annual temperatures. I’m sure 


SIX STAR RANCH 


15 


if they can be any meaner than the temperature right 
here to-day is,” she sighed, as she fell to fanning 
herself vigorously, I don’t want to know what it 
is!” 

“Tilly!” gasped Cordelia, in shocked disap- 
proval. “ What would Genevieve say ! ” 

Tilly shrugged her shoulders. 

“Say? She wouldn’t say anything — she 
couldn’t,” declared Tilly, unexpectedly, “ because 
she’d be laughing at us so for digging into Texas 
like this and unearthing all its poor little secrets ! ” 

“ But, Tilly, I think we ought to study it,” re- 
proved Cordelia, majestically, above the laugh that 
followed Tilly’s speech. “Elsie — I mean. Miss 
Martin, — what did you find out to-day?” 

Elsie wrinkled her nose in a laughing grimace at 
Tilly, then began to speak in an exaggeratedly sol- 
emn tone of voice. 

“ I find Texas is so large, and contains so great a 
variety of soil, and climate, that any product of the 
United States can be grown within its limits. It is 
a leader on cotton. Corn, wheat, rice, peanuts, 
sugar cane and potatoes are also grown, besides 
tobacco.” 

“ And watermelons, Elsie,” cut in Bertha Brown. 
“ I found in a paper that just last year Texas grew 
140,000,000 watermelons.” 

“ I was coming to the watermelons,” observed 
Elsie, with dignity. 


16 SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Wish I were — I dote on watermelons ! ” 
pouted Tilly in an audible aside that brought a 
chuckle of appreciation from Harold Day. 

Cordelia gave her a reproachful look. Elsie 
went on, her chin a little higher. 

‘‘ Texas is the greatest producer of honey in the 
United States. As for the cattle — prior to 1775 
there were vast ranches all over Southwestern Texas, 
and herds of hundreds of wild cattle were gathered 
and driven to New Orleans. I found some figures 
that told the number of animals in 1892, or about 
then, ril give them. They’re old now, of course, 
but they’ll do to show what a lot of animals there 
were there then.” 

Elsie paused to take breath, but for only a mo- 
ment. 

“ There were 7,500,000 head of cattle, 5,000,000 
sheep, and 1,210,000 horses, besides more than 
2,321,000 hogs.” 

There was a sudden giggle from Tilly — an ex- 
plosive giggle that brought every amazed eye upon 
her. 

Well, really, Tilly,” disapproved Elsie, ag' 
grievedly, “ I’m sure I don’t see what there was sfl' 
very funny in that! ” 

“There wasn’t,” choked Tilly; “only I was 
thinking, what an awful noise it would be if all 
those 2,321,000 hogs got under the gate at once.” 

“Tilly!” scolded Cordelia; but she laughed. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


17 


She could not help it. They all laughed. Even the 
little boys and girls on the outskirts giggled shrilly, 
and stole the opportunity to draw nearer to the 
magic circle. Almost at once, however, Cordelia 
regained her dignity. 

Miss Mack, we’ll hear from you, please — seri- 
ously, I mean. You haven’t told us yet what you’ve 
found.” 

Tilly flushed a little. 

I didn’t find anything.” 

“ Why, Tilly Mack ! ” cried a chorus of condemn- 
ing voices. 

Well, I didn’t,” defended Tilly. In the first 
place I’ve told everything I can think of : trees, 
fruits, history, and everything; and this morning 
I just had to go to Mrs. Miller’s for a fitting.” 

Oh, Tilly, another new dress? ” demanded Elsie 
Martin, her voice a pathetic wail of wistfulness. 

“ But there are still so many things,” argued Cor- 
delia, her grave eyes fixed on Tilly, ‘‘ so many things 
to learn that — ” She was interrupted by an eager 
little voice from the outskirts. 

I’ve got something, please, Cordelia. Mayn’t 
I tell it? It’s a brand-newest thing. Nobody’s said 
it once ! ” 

Cordelia turned to confront her ten-year-old 
cousin, Edith. 

Why, Edith ! ” 

‘‘ And I have, too,” piped up Edith’s brother. 


18 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Fred, with shrill earnestness. (Fred was eight.) 
“ And mine’s new, too.” 

Cordelia frowned thoughtfully. 

“ But, children, you don’t belong to the club. 
Only members can talk, you know.” 

“ Pooh! let’s hear it, Cordelia,” shrugged Tilly. 
‘‘ I’m sure if it’s new we need it — of all the old 
chestnuts we’ve heard to-day ! ” 

'‘Well,” agreed Cordelia, "what is it, Edith? 
You spoke first.” 

" It’s gypsies,” announced the small girl, tri- 
umphantly. 

"Gypsies!” chorused the Happy Hexagons in 
open unbelief. 

"Yes. There’s lots of ’em there — more than 
’most anywhere else in the world.” 

The girls looked at each other with puzzled eyes. 

" Why, I never heard Genevieve say anything 
about gypsies,” ventured Tilly. 

" Well, they’re there, anyhow,” maintained Edith; 
" I read it.” 

"You read it! Where?” demanded Cordelia. 

" In father’s big sac’l’pedia.” Edith’s voice 
sounded grieved, but triumphant. " I was up in 
auntie’s room, and I saw it. It was open on her 
bed, and I read it. It said there was coal and iron 
and silver, and lots and lots of gypsies.” 

There was a breathless hush, followed suddenly 
by a shrieking laugh from Tilly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


19 


“ Oh, girls, girls ! ’’ she gasped. “ That blessed 
child means ‘ gypsum.’ I saw that in papa’s encyclo- 
pedia just the other day.” 

But what is gypsum ? ” demanded Alma Lane. 

“Mercy! don’t ask me,” shuddered Tilly. “I 
looked it up in the dictionary, but it only said it was 
a whole lot of worse names. All I could make out 
was that it had crystals, and was used for dressing 
for soils, and for plaster of Paris. Gypsies! Oh, 
Edith, Edith, what a circus you are I ” she chuckled, 
going into another gale of laughter. 

It was Fred’s injured tones that filled the first 
pause in the general hubbub that followed Tilly’s 
explanation. 

“ You haven’t heard mine, yet,” he challenged. 
“ Mine’s right! ” 

“Well?” questioned Cordelia, wiping her eyes. 
(Even Cordelia had laughed till she cried.) “ What 
is yours, Fred? ” 

“ It’s boats. There hasn’t one of you said a single 
thing about the boats you were going to ride in.” 

“ Boats ! ” cried the girls in a second chorus of 
unbelief. 

“ Oh, you needn’t try to talk me out of that,” 
bristled the boy. “ I know what Fm talking about. 
Old Mr. Hodges told me himself. He’s been in ’em. 
He said that years and years ago, when he was a 
little boy like me, he and his father and mother 
went ’way across the state of Texas in a prairie 


20 SIX STAR RANCH 


schooner; and I asked father that night what a 
schooner was, and he said it was a boat. Well, he 
did ! ” maintained Fred, a little angrily, as a shout 
of laughter rose from the girls. 

‘‘ And so ’tis a boat — some kinds of schooners,” 
Harold Day soothed the boy quickly, rising to his 
feet, and putting a friendly arm about the small 
heaving shoulders. Come on, son, let’s you and 
I go over to the house. I’ve got a dandy picture of 
a prairie schooner over there, and we’ll hunt it up 
and see just what it looks like.” And with a cere- 
monious “ Good day, ladies ! ” and an elaborate 
flourish of his hat toward the Happy Hexagons, 
Harold drew the boy more closely into the circle 
of his arm and turned away. 

It was the signal for a general breaking up of the 
club meeting. Cordelia, only, looked a little anx- 
iously after the two boys, as she complained : 

“ Harold never tells a thing that he knows about 
Texas, and he must know a lot of things, even if 
he did leave there when he was a tiny little baby ! ” 

“Don’t you fret, Cordy,” retorted Tilly. (Cor- 
delia did not like to be called “ Cordy,” and Tilly 
knew it.) “Harold Day will talk Texas all right 
after Genevieve gets back. Besides, you couldn’t 
expect a boy to join in with a girls’ club like us, 
just as if he were another girl — specially as he 
isn’t going to Texas, anyway.” 

“ Well, all he ever does is just to sit and look 


SIX STAR RANCH 


21 


bored — except when Tilly gets in some of her 
digs,” chuckled Bertha. 

Glad Tm good for something, if nothing but to 
stir up Harold, then,” laughed Tilly, as she turned 
away to answer Elsie Martin’s anxious : ‘‘ Tilly, 
what color is the new dress ? Is it red ? ” 

It was the next day that the letter came from 
Genevieve. Cordelia brought it to the club meeting 
that afternoon; and so full of importance and ex- 
citement was she that for once she quite forgot to 
open the meeting with her usual ceremony. 

“Girls, girls, just listen to this!” she began 
breathlessly. 

The Happy Hexagons opened wide their eyes. 
Never before had they seen the usually placid Cor- 
delia like this. 

“ Why, Cordelia, you’re almost girlish ! ob- 
served Tilly, cheerfully. 

Cordelia did not seem even to hear this gibe. 

“ It’s a letter from Genevieve,” she panted, as she 
hurriedly spread open the sheet of note paper in her 
hand. 

“ Dear Cordelia, and the whole Club,” read Cor- 
delia, excitedly. “ I came up yesterday from New 
Jersey with the Hardings for two days in New 
York. I have been to see the animals at the Zoo 
all the afternoon, and I’m going to see the Hippo- 
drome this evening. That sounds like another ani- 


22 


SIX STAR RANCH 


mal, but it isn’t one, they say. It’s a place all lights 
and music and crowds, and with a stage ’most as 
big as Texas itself, with scores of real horses and 
cowboys riding all over it. 

I am having a perfectly beautiful time, but I 
just can’t wait to see my own beloved home on the 
big prairie, and have you all there with me. I 
sha’n’t see it quite so soon though, for father has 
been delayed about some of his business, and he 
can’t come for me quite so soon as he expected. He 
says we sha’n’t get away from Sunbridge until the 
fifth; but he’s engaged five sections in a sleeper 
leaving Boston at eight p. m. So we’ll go then sure. 

“ Mrs. Harding is calling me. Good-by till I see 
you. We’re coming the third. With heaps of love 
to everybody. Your own 

Genevieve Hartley.” 

Well, I like that,” bridled Tilly. ‘‘ Just think 
— not go until the fifth ! ” 

‘‘ Oh, but just think of going at all,” comforted 
Alma Lane, hurriedly ; and in sleepers, too ! 
Sleepers are loads of fun. I rode in one fifty miles, 
once — it wasn’t in the night, though.” 

“I rode in one at night!” Tilly’s voice rose 
dominant, triumphant. 

“My stars!” 

“ When?” 

‘‘ Where?” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


23 


'' What was it like ? ” 

‘‘ Was it fun? ” 

“ Why didn’t you tell us ? ” 

Tilly laughed in keen enjoyment of the commo- 
tion she had created. 

‘‘ Don’t you wish you knew ? ” she teased. “ Just 
you wait and see ! ” 

‘‘ Yes, but, Tilly, do they lay you down on a little 
narrow shelf, really?” worried Cordelia. 

I sha’n’t take off a single thing, anyhow,” an- 
nounced Bertha, with decision, not even my shoes. 
I’ni just sure there’ll be an accident ! ” 

Tilly laughed merrily. 

A fine traveler you’ll make, Bertha,” she 
scoffed. “ Sleepers are made to sleep in, young 
lady — not to lie awake and worry in, for fear 
there’ll be an accident and you’ll lose your shoes. 
As for you, Cordy, and the shelf you’re fretting 
over — there are shelves, in a way; but you lay 
yourself down on them, my child. Nobody else 
does it for you.” 

‘‘ Thank you,” returned Cordelia, a little stiffly. 
Cordelia did not like to be called my child ” — 
specially by Tilly, who was not quite sixteen, and 
who was the youngest member of the club. 

But, Tilly, are — are sleepers nice, daytimes?” 
asked Edith Wilson, who, as usual, was hovering 
near. I should think they’d be lovely for nights — 
but I wouldn’t like to have to lie down all day ! ” 


24 SIX STAR RANCH 


Tilly laughed so hard at this that Edith grew red 
of face indeed before Alma patched matters up and 
made peace. 

It was the trip to Texas that was the all-absorb- 
ing topic of discussion that day; and it was the 
trip to Texas that Cordelia Wilson was thinking of 
as she walked slowly home that night after leaving 
the girls at the corner. 

“ I wonder — she began just under her breath; 
then stopped short. An old man, known as Uncle 
Bill Hodges,” stood directly in her path. 

Miss Cordelia, I — I want to speak to ye, just a 
minute,” he stammered. 

“ Yes, sir.” Cordelia smiled politely. 

The old man threw a suspicious glance over his 
shoulder, then came a step nearer. 

“ I ain’t tellin’ this everywhere. Miss Cordelia, 
and I don’t want you to say nothin’. You’re goin’ 
to Texas, they tell me.” 

“ Yes, Mr. Hodges, I am.” Cordelia tried to 
make her voice sound properly humble, but pride 
would vibrate through it. 

“ Well, I — ” The man hesitated, looked around 
again suspiciously, then blurted out a storm of 
words with the rush of desperation. “I — years 
ago. Miss Cordelia, I let a man in Boston have a lot 
of money. He said ’twas goin’ into an oil well out 
in Texas, and that when it came back there’d be a 
lot more with it a-comin’ to me. So I let him have 


SIX STAR RANCH 25 


it. I liked Texas, anyhow — Fd been there as a 
boy.’’ 

Yes,” nodded Cordelia, smiling as she remem- 
bered the prairie schooner that was Fred’s boat.” 

Well, for a while I did get money — dividends, 
he called ’em. Then it all stopped off short. They 
shut the man up in prison, and closed the office. 
And there’s all my money ! They do be sayin’, too, 
that there ain’t no such place as this oil well there — 
that is, not the way he said it was — so big and fine 
and promisin’. Well, now, of course I can’t go to 
see. Miss Cordelia — an old man like me, all the 
way to Texas. But you are goin’. So I thought I’d 
just ask you to look around a little if you happened 
to hear anything about this well. Maybe you could 
go and see it, and then tell me. I’ve written down 
the name on this paper,” finished the man, thrusting 
his trembling fingers into his pocket, and bringing 
out a small piece of not over-clean paper. 

“ Why, of — of course, Mr. Hodges,” promised 
Cordelia, doubtfully, as she took the paper. I’d 
love to do anything I could for you — anything! 
Only I’m afraid I don’t know much about oil wells, 
you see. Do they look just like — water wells, with 
a pump or a bucket ? Bertha’s aunt has one of those 
on her farm.” 

‘‘ I don’t know, child, I don’t know,’^ murmured 
the old man, shaking his head sadly, as he turned 
away. “ Sometimes I think there ain’t any such 


26 


SIX STAR RANCH 


things, anyhow. But you’ll do your best, I know. 
I can trust you! 

“ Why, of course,” returned Cordelia, earnestly, 
slipping the bit of paper into the envelope of Gene- 
vieve’s letter in her hand. 

In her own room that night Cordelia Wilson got 
out her list marked Things to do in Texas,” and 
studied it with troubled eyes. She had now one 
more item to add to it — and it was already so long ! 

She had started the list for her own benefit. 
Then had come the request from queer old Hermit 
Joe to be on the lookout for his son who had gone 
years ^ ago to Texas. After that, commissions for 
others followed rapidly. So many people had so 
many things they wanted her to do in Texas ! — 
and nobody wanted them talked about in Sunbridge. 

Slowly, with careful precision, she wrote down 
this last one. Then, a little 'dubiously, she read 
over the list. 

See the blue bonnet — the Texas state flower. 
Find oiit if it really is shaped like a bonnet. 

Bring home a piece of prairie grass. 

See a real buffalo. 

Find Hermit Joe’s son, John, who ran away to 
Texas twenty years ago. 

See an Osage orange hedge. 

See a broncho bursted (obviously changed over 
from busted ”). 

Find out for Mrs. Miller if cowboys do shoot at 


SIX STAR RANCH 27 


sight, and yell always without just and due provo- 
cation. 

See a mesquite tree. 

Inquire if any one has seen Mrs. Snow’s daughter, 
Lizzie, who ran away with a Texas man named 
Higgins. 

Pick a fig. 

See a rice canal. 

Find out what has become of Mrs. Granger’s 
cousin, Lester Goodwin, who went to Texas four- 
teen years ago. 

See cotton growing and pick a cotton boll, called 
“ Texas Roses.” 

See peanuts growing. 

Inquire for James Hunt, brother of Miss Sally 
Hunt. 

See a real Indian. 

Look at oil well for Mr. Hodges, and see if there 
is any there. 

Now if I can just fix all those people’s names 
in my mind,” mused Cordelia, aloud ; and seems 
as if I might — there are only four. John Sanborn, 
Lizzie Higgins, Lester Goodwin, and James Hunt,” 
she chanted over and over again. She was still 
droning the same refrain when she fell asleep that 
night. 


28 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER III 

THE COMING OF GENEVIEVE 

Genevieve was to arrive in Sunbridge at three 
o’clock on the afternoon of the third of July. Her 
father was to remain in Boston until one of the 
evening trains. The Happy Hexagons, knowing 
Genevieve’s plans, decided to give her a welcome be- 
fitting the club and the occasion. They invited 
Harold Day, of course, to join them. 

Harold laughed good-humoredly. 

Oh, I’ll be there all right, at the station,” he 
assured them. I’ve got Mrs. Kennedy’s permis- 
sion to bring her up to the house ; but I don’t think 
I’ll join in on your show. I’ll let you girls do that.” 

The girls pouted a little, but they were too excited 
to remain long out of humor. 

** Don’t our dresses look pretty ! I know Gene- 
vieve’ll be pleased,” sighed Elsie Martin, as, long 
before the train was due that afternoon, the girls 
arrived at the station. 

Of course she’ll be pleased,” cried Alma Lane. 
** She can’t help it. I can hear her laugh and clap 
her hands now, when she sees us — and hears us 1 ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


29 


‘‘ So can I,” echoed Bertha. And how her 
eyes will dance! I love to see Genevieve’s eyes 
dance.” 

** So do I,” chorused the others, fervently. 

Sunbridge was a quiet little town in southern 
New Hampshire near the state line. It had wide, 
tree-shaded streets, and green-shuttered white 
houses set far back in spacious lawns. The station 
at this hour was even quieter than the town, and 
there were few curious eyes to question the mean- 
ing of the unusual appearance of five laughing, ex- 
cited young girls, all dressed alike, and all showing 
flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. 

At one minute before three o’clock, a tall, good- 
looking youth drove up in a smart trap, and was 
hailed with shouts of mingled joy and relief. 

Oh, Harold, we were just sure you were going 
to be late,” cried Cordelia. 

'‘Late? Not I — to-day!” laughed the boy. 
Then, with genuine admiration : “ Say, that is 
pretty slick, girls. I’ll take off my hat to the Happy 
Hexagons to-day all right ! ” he finished, with an 
elaborate flourish. 

" Thank you,” twittered Tilly, saucily. " Now 
don’t you wish you had joined us? But then — 
you couldn’t have worn a white frock ! ” 

A prolonged bell-clanging and the rumble of an 
approaching train prevented Harold’s reply, and 
sent the girls into a flutter of excitement. A mo- 


so 


SIX STAR RANCH 


merit later they stood in line, waiting, breathless 
with suspense. 

They made a wonderfully pretty picture. Each 
girl was in white, even to her shoes and stockings. 
Around each waist was a sash of a handsome shade 
of blue. The same color showed at the throat and 
on the hair. 

Quietly they watched the train roll into the sta- 
tion, and still quietly they stood until a tall, slender 
girl with merry brown eyes and soft fluffy brown 
hair appeared at a car door and tripped lightly down 
the steps to the platform. They waited only till she 
ran toward them; then in gleeful chorus they 
chanted : 

“Texas, Texas, Tex — Tex — Texas! 

Texas, Texas, Rah! Rah! Rah! 

GENEVIEVE! ” 

What happened next was a surprise. Genevieve 
did not laugh, nor cry out, nor clap her hands. Her 
eyes did not dance. She stopped and fumbled with 
the fastening of her suit-case. The next minute the 
train drew out of the station, and the girls were left 
alone in their corner. Genevieve looked up, at that, 
and came swiftly toward them. 

They saw then : the brown eyes were full of tears. 

The girls had intended to repeat their Texas yell ; 
but with one accord now they cried out in dismay: 


r 


f 


t 



‘ A TALL, SLENDER GIRL 


. APPEARED AT A CAR 


! 



DOOR 


99 


' I 

1 

I 

i 

i 


I 


t 



SIX STAR RANCH 


31 


“ Genevieve ! Why, Genevieve, you’re — cry- 
ing ! ” 

“ I know I am, and I could shake myself,” choked 
Genevieve, hugging each girl in turn spasmodically. 

“ But, Genevieve, what is the matter ? ” appealed 
Cordelia. 

“ I don’t know, I don’t know — and that’s what’s 
the trouble,” wailed Genevieve. I don’t know why 
I’m crying when I’m so g-glad to see you. But I 
reckon ’twas that — ‘ Texas ’ ! ” 

But we thought you’d like that,” argued Elsie. 
I did — I do,” stammered Genevieve, incoher- 
ently ; and it made me cry to think I did — I mean, 
to think I do — so much ! ” 

Well, we’re glad you did, or do, anyhow,” 
laughed Harold Day, holding out his hand. And 
we’re glad you’re back again. I’ve got Jerry here 
and the cart. This your bag? ” 

‘‘Yes, right here; and thank you, Harold,” she 
smiled a little mistily. “ And girls, you’re lovely — 
just lovely; and I don’t know why I’m crying. But 
you’re to come over — straight over to the house 
this very afternoon. I want to hear that ‘ T-Texas ’ 
again. I want to hear it six times running I ” she 
finished, as she sprang lightly into the cart. 

On the way with Harold, she grew more calm. 

“ You see, once, last fall, I said I hated Sun- 
bridge, and that I wouldn’t stay,” she e^cplained a 
little shame-facedly. 


32 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ You said you hated it! ” cried Harold. You 
never told me that. Why, I thought you liked it 
here.” 

“I do, now, and I did — very soon, specially 
after Fd met some one I could talk Texas to all I 
wanted to — you, you know ! I reckon I never told 
you, but you were a regular safety valve for me in 
those days.” 

‘‘ Was I ? ” laughed the lad. 

“Yes, even from that first day,” nodded Gene- 
vieve, with a half-wistful smile. “ Did I ever tell 
you the reason, the real reason, why Aunt Julia 
called you into the yard that afternoon ? ” 

“ Why, no — not that I know of.” Harold’s face 
showed a puzzled frown. 

“ Well, ’twas this. Fd been here a week, and I 
was so homesick and lonesome for father and the 
ranch and all. I was threatening to go back. I 
declared Fd walk back, if there was no other way. 
Poor Aunt Julia ! She tried everything. Specially 
she tried to have me meet some nice girls, but I just 
wouldn’t. I said I didn’t want any girls that weren’t 
Texas girls. I didn’t want anything that wasn’t 
Texas. That’s what Fd been saying that very day 
out under the trees there, when Aunt Julia looked 
toward the street, saw you, and called you into the 
yard.” 

“ Is that why she introduced me as the boy who 
was born in Texas ? ” laughed Harold. 


SIX STAR RANCH 33 


‘‘ Yes; and you know how I began to talk Texas 
right away.” 

“ But I couldn’t help much — I left there when I 
was a baby.” 

“ I know, but you’d been there,” laughed Gene- 
vieve, and that helped. Then, through you, I met 
your cousin Alma, and the rest was easy, for I al- 
ways had you for that safety valve, to talk Texas 
to. You see, it was just that I got homesick. All 
my life I’d lived on the ranch, and things here were 
so different. I didn’t like to — to mind Mrs. Ken- 
nedy and Miss Jane, very well, I suspect. You see, 
at the ranch I’d always had my own way, and — I 
liked it.” 

Well, I’m sure that’s natural,” nodded Har- 
old. 

I know ; but I wasn’t nice about it,” returned 
the girl, wistfully. ‘‘ Father said I must do every- 
thing — everything they said. And I tried to. But 
Miss Jane had such heaps of things for me to do, 
and such tiresome things, like dusting and prac- 
tising, and learning to cook and to sew! And it 
all was specially hard when you remember that I 
didn’t want to come East in the first place. But I 
love it here, now ; you know I do. Every one has 
been so good to me! Aunt Julia is a dear.” 

“And — Miss Jane?” queried Harold, eyeing 
her a little mischievously. 

Genevieve blushed. 


34 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“Miss Jane? Well, she’s ’most a dear, too — 
sometimes. As for Sunbridge — I love both the 
East and the West now. Don’t you see? But, to- 
day, coming up from Boston, I got to thinking 
about it — my dear prairie home ; and how I had 
hated to leave it, and how now I was going back 
to it with Aunt Julia and the girls all with me. 
And I was so happy, so wonderfully happy, that a 
great big something rose within me, and I felt so 
— so queer, as if I could fly, and fly, and Uy! And 
then, when I saw the girls all dressed alike so 
prettily, and heard the ‘ Texas, Texas, Texas ’ — 
what did I do? I didn’t do anything but cry — 
cry, Harold, just as if I didn’t like things. And 
the girls were so disappointed, I know they 
were ! ” 

“Never mind; I guess you can make them un- 
derstand — anyhow, you have me,” said Harold, 
trying to speak with a lightness that would hide the 
fact that her words had made him, too, feel “ queer.” 
Harold did not enjoy feeling “ queer.” 

A moment later they turned into the broad white 
driveway that led up to the Kennedy home. 

On the veranda of the fine old house stood a 
sweet-faced, motherly-looking woman with tender 
eyes and a loving smile. Near her was a taller, 
younger woman with eyes almost as interested, 
and a smile almost as cordial. 

“You dears — both of you!” cried Genevieve, 


SIX STAR RANCH 


35 


running up the steps and into the arms of the two 
women. 

“ Thank you, Harold,’' smiled Mrs. Kennedy over 
Genevieve’s bobbing head ; ‘‘ thank you for bringing 
our little girl home.” 

‘‘As if I wasn’t glad to do it! ” laughed the boy, 
gallantly, as he picked up the reins and sprang into 
the cart. To the horse he added later, when quite 
out of earshot of the ladies: “Jerry, I’m thinking 
Genevieve isn’t the only one in that house that has 
‘ improved ’ since last August. It strikes me that 
Miss Jane Chick has done a little on her own ac- 
count. Did you see that smile ? That was a really, 
truly smile, Jerry. Not the ‘ I-suppose-I-must ’ 
kind!” 

Genevieve and the two ladies were still on the 
veranda when the five white-clad girls turned in at 
the broad front walk. 

“ We came around this way home,” announced 
Tilly. “ You said you wanted us.” 

“ Want you! Well, I reckon I do,” cried Gene- 
vieve, springing to her feet. “ Come up here this 
minute! Now say it — say it again — that thing 
you did at the station. I want Aunt Julia to hear 
it — and Miss Jane.” 

The change in Genevieve’s voice and manner was 
unconscious, but it was very evident. No one no- 
ticed it apparently, however, but Tilly; and she 
only puckered her lips into an odd little smile as she 


36 


SIX STAR RANCH 


formed in line with the other girls: Tilly was not 
without some experience herself with Miss Jane 
and her ways. 

‘‘ Now, one, two, three, ready ! counted Cor- 
delia, sternly, her face a tragedy of responsibility 
lest this final triumph of their labors should be any- 
thing less than the glorious success the occasion de- 
manded. 

Once more five eager, girlish countenances faced 
squarely front. Once more five fresh young voices 
chanted with lusty precision : 

“ Texas, Texas, Tex — Tex — Texas! 

Texas, Texas, Rah! Rah! Rah! 

GENEVIEVE! 

It was finished. Cordelia, with the expression of 
one from whom the weight of nations has been 
lifted, drew a happy sigh, and looked confidently 
about for her reward. Almost at once, however, 
her face clouded perplexedly. 

Genevieve was dancing lightly on her toes and 
clapping her hands softly. Mrs. Kennedy was 
laughing with her handkerchief to her lips. But 
Miss Jane Chick — Miss Jane Chick was sitting 
erect, her eyes plainly horrified, her hands clapped 
to her ears. 

“ Children, children ! ’’ she gasped, as soon as 
there was a chance for her voice to be heard. You 


SIX STAR RANCH 


37 


don’t mean to say that you did that — at a public 
railroad station ! ” 

Cordelia looked distressed. The other girls bit 
their lips and lifted their chins just a little: they 
did not like to be called children.” 

** But, Miss Chick,” stammered Cordelia, we 
didn’t think — that is, we wanted to do something 
to welcome Genevieve, and — and — ” Cordelia 
stopped, and swallowed chokingly. 

‘‘ But to shout like that,” protested Miss Chick. 
‘‘You — young ladies ! ” 

The girls bit their lips still harder and lifted their 
chins still higher : they were not quite sure whether 
they more disliked to be “ children ” or “ young 
ladies ” — in that tone of voice. 

“ Oh, but Miss Jane,” argued Genevieve, “ you 
know Sunbridge station is just dead, simply dead at 
three o’clock in the afternoon. Nobody ever comes 
on that train, hardly, and there wasn’t a soul around 
but that sleepy Mr. Jones and the station men, and 
that old Mrs. Palmer. And you know she wouldn’t 
hear a gun go off right under her nose.” 

“ Genevieve, my dear ! ” murmured Mrs. Ken- 
nedy — but her eyes were twinkling. 

Cordelia still looked troubled. 

“ I know, Genevieve,” she frowned anxiously, 
“ but I never thought of it that way — what others 
would think. Maybe we ought not to have done it, 
after all. But I’m sure we didn’t mean any harm.” 


38 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Promptly, now, Mrs. Kennedy came to the 
rescue. 

“ Of course you did not, dear child,’’ she said, 
smiling into Cordelia’s troubled eyes ; “ and it was 
very sweet and lovely of you girls to think of giving 
Genevieve such a pretty welcome. Oh, of course,” 
she added with a whimsical glance at her sister, 
“ we shouldn’t exactly advise you to make a prac- 
tice of welcoming everybody home in that somewhat 
startling fashion. That really wouldn’t do, you 
know. Sunbridge station might not be quite so 
dead next time,” she finished, meeting Genevieve’s 
grateful eyes. 

“ That really was dear of you. Aunt Julia,” con- 
fided Genevieve some time later, after the girls had 
gone, and when she and Mrs. Kennedy were alone 
together. (Miss Jane had gone up-stairs.) “ Only 
think of the pains they took — to get themselves 
up to look so pretty, besides learning to give that yell 
so finely. I was so afraid they’d be hurt at what 
Miss Jane said ! And I wouldn’t want them hurt — 
after all that! ” 

Of course you wouldn’t,” smiled Mrs, Kennedy; 
and my sister wouldn’t either, dear.” 

Genevieve stirred restlessly. 

I know she wouldn’t. Aunt Julia; but — but 
the girls don’t know it. They — they don’t under- 
stand Miss Jane.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


39 


And do you — always?” The question was 
gently put, but its meaning was unmistakable. 

Genevieve colored. 

‘‘ Maybe not — quite always ; but — Miss Jane 
is so — so shockable ! ” 

Mrs. Kennedy made a sudden movement. Ap- 
parently she only stooped to pick up a small thread 
from the floor, but when she came upright her face 
was a deeper red than just that exertion would seem 
to occasion. 

Genevieve, have you been to your room since 
you came home?” she asked. There were times 
when Mrs. Kennedy could change the subject almost 
as abruptly as could Genevieve herself. 

“ No, Aunt Julia. You know Nancy carried up 
my suit-case, and I’ve been too busy telling you all 
about my visit to think of anything else.” 

Oh,” smiled Mrs. Kennedy. “ I was just won- 
dering.” 

Genevieve frowned in puzzled questioning. 

Well, I’m going up right away, anyhow,” she 
said. Mercy ! I reckon I’ll go up right now,” she 
added laughingly, springing to her feet as there 
came through the open window behind her the 
sound of a clock striking half-past five. ‘‘ I had no 
idea it was so late.” 

Genevieve was not many minutes in her room be- 
fore she ceased to wonder at Mrs. Kennedy’s ques- 
tioning; for in plain sight on her dressing-table 


40 


SIX STAR RANCH 


she soon found a small white box addressed to Gene- 
vieve Hartley. The box, upon being opened, dis- 
closed in a white velvet nest a beautiful little chate- 
laine watch in dark blue enamel and gold. 

‘‘To keep Genevieve’s time. 

“ With much love from 
“ Jane Chick.” 

read Genevieve on the little card that was with the 
watch. 

“ Oh, oh, oh, how lovely ! ” breathed the girl, 
hovering over the watch in delight. “ And to think 
what I said ! ” With a heightened color she turned, 
tripped across the room and hurried down the hall 
to Miss Jane’s door. 

“ Miss Jane! ” 

“ Yes, dear.” 

“ May I come in ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed.” 

“I — I want to thank you — oh, I do want to 
thank you, but I don’t know how.” Genevieve’s 
eyes were misty. 

“ For the watch? You like it, then?” 

“ Like it! I just love it; and I never, never saw 
such a beauty ! ” 

“ I’m glad you like it.” 

There was a moment’s pause. Over by the dress- 
ing-table Miss Jane was carefully smoothing a re- 
fractory lock of hair into place. She looked so 


SIX STAR RANCH 


41 


calm, so self-contained, so — far away, thought 
Genevieve; if it had been .Aunt Julia, now! 

Suddenly the girl gave a little skipping run and 
enveloped the lady in two wide-flung young arms, 
thereby ruffling up more than ever the carefully 
smoothed lock of hair. 

“ Miss Jane, I — I’ve just got to hug you, any- 
way ! ” 

“ Why, Genevieve, my dear ! ” murmured Miss 
Jane, a little dazedly. 

From the door Genevieve called back incoherently 

— the hug had been as short in duration as it had 
been sudden in action : 

“ I don’t think I can be late now. Miss Jane, ever 

— with that lovely thing to keep time for me. And 
I wanted you to know — next year, when I come 
back, I’m just sure I shall cook and sew beautifully, 
and do my practising and everything, without once 
being told. And if I do sprain my ankle I’ll be a 
perfect angel — truly I will. And I won’t ever keep 
folks waiting, either, or — mercy! there’s Nancy’s 
first ring now, and I’m not one bit ready ! ” she 
broke off, as the musical notes of a Chinese gong 
sounded from the hall below. The next moment 
Miss Jane was alone with her thoughts — and with 
the lock of hair that she was still trying to smooth. 

‘‘ Dear child ! ” smiled the lady. Then she turned 
abruptly and hastened from the room, her hair still 
unsmoothed. I’ll just tell Nancy to be a little 


42 SIX STAR RANCH 


slow about ringing that second gong/' she mur- 
mured. 

When Genevieve came down-stairs to supper 
that night, she brought with her two books: one a 
small paper-covered one, the other a larger one 
bound in dark red leather. 

Here’s the latest ‘ Pathfinder ’ — only I call it 
' Pathloser/ ” she laughed, handing the smaller 
book to Miss Jane Chick; “ and here is — well, just 
see what is here,” she finished impressively, spread- 
ing open the leather-covered book before Mrs. 
Kennedy’s eyes. 

‘ Chronicles of the Hexagon Club,’ ” read Mrs.- 
Kennedy. Oh, a journal ! ” she smiled. 

“ Yes, Aunt Julia. Isn’t it lovely? ” 

Indeed it is ! Who will keep it ? ” 

All of us. We are going to take turns. We 
shall write a day apiece — we six Happy Hexagons 
of the Hexagon Club.” 

‘‘ Do the 'girls know about it? ” asked Miss Jane. 

“ Not yet. I just thought of it yesterday when 
I saw the book in the store. Father bought it for 
the club — of course my money was gone long ago 
— at such a time as she explained with laugh- 
ing emphasis. I’m going to show the book to the 
girls to-morrow. Won’t they be tickled — I mean 
pleased,” corrected Genevieve, throwing a hasty 
glance into Miss Jane’s smiling eyes. 

I think they will,” agreed that lady, pleasantly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


43 


The girls were pleased, indeed, when Genevieve 
told of her plan and showed the book the next day. 
But even so entrancing a subject as a journal kept 
by each in turn could not hold their attention long; 
for time was very short now, and in every house- 
hold there were a dozen-and-one last things to be 
done before the momentous fifth of July. Even the 
Fourth, with its fun anch its firecrackers had no 
charms for the Happy Hexagons. Of so little con- 
sequence did they consider it, indeed, that at last 
one small boy quite lost his patience. 

You won’t fire my crackers, you won’t take me 
to the picnic, you won’t play ball, you won’t do any- 
thing,” he complained to his absorbed sister. I 
shall be just glad when this old Texas thing is 
over ! ” 


44 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER IV 

ON THE WAY 

All the girls’ friends came to see them off at the 
station that fifth of July. 

“ Mercy! it would never do to spring our Texas 
yell to-day,” chuckled Tilly, eyeing the assembled 
crowd ; “ but wouldn’t I like to, though I ” 

“ There’s nothing dead about Sunbridge now, 
sure,” laughed Genevieve. 

“ I should say not,” declared Harold Day, who 
had begged the privilege of going to Boston to see 
them aboard their train for Washington. 

“ For you see,” he had argued, “ it’s to my state, 
after all, that you are going, so I ought to be allowed 
to do the honors at this end of the trip as long as 
I can’t at the other ! ” 

They were off at last, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Hart- 
ley, the six girls, and Harold. But what a scram- 
bling it was, and what a confusion of chatter, 
laughter, “ good-byes,” and “ write soons ” I 

In Boston there was a thirty-minute wait in the 
South Station before their train was due to leave; 
but long before the thirty minutes were over, the 


SIX STAR RANCH 45 


usually serene face of Mrs. Kennedy began to look 
flushed and worried. 

“ Genevieve, my dear,” she expostulated at last, 
“ can’t you keep those flutterbudget girls somewhere 
near together? It will be time, soon, to take our 
train, and only Cordelia is in sight. Not even 
Harold and your father are here ! ” 

Genevieve laughed soothingly. 

“ I know. Aunt Julia; but they’ll be here. I’m 
sure. There’s still lots of time,” she added, glancing 
proudly at her pretty new watch. 

“ But where are they all ? ” 

‘‘ Tilly and Elsie have gone for some soda water, 
and Bertha for a sandwich at the lunch counter. 
She said she just couldn’t eat a thing before she left 
home. Alma Lane has gone to a drug store across 
the street. I don’t know where father and Harold 
are. They went off together, and — oh, here they 
are ! ” she broke off in relief, as the two wanderers 
appeared. 

“ And now,” summoned Mr. Hartley, we’ll be 
off to our car ! Why, where are the rest of us ? ” 

“ Well, they — they aren’t all here,” frowned 
Genevieve, a little anxiously. 

As at Sunbridge, it was a rush and a scramble at 
the last. Tilly, Elsie, and Bertha came back, but 
Genevieve went to look for Alma Lane; and when 
Alma returned without having seen Genevieve, 
Harold had to run post-haste for her. 


46 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘‘ Sure, dearie,” said Mr. Hartley to his 
daughter, laughingly, when at last he had his 
charges all in the car, this is a little worse than 
trying to corral a bunch of bronchos ! ” 

Oh, but we won’t be so bad again,” promised 
the girl, waving her hand to Harold, who stood 
alone outside the window, watching them a little 
wistfully. 

They had a merry time getting settled, and more 
than one tired countenance in the car brightened at 
sight of the six eager young faces. 

‘‘ I couldn’t get all five sections together,” 
frowned Mr. Hartley. ‘‘ I got three here, but the 
other two are down near the end of the car — you 
know the porter showed you. Do you think we can 
make them go, some way?” he questioned Mrs. 
Kennedy, anxiously. ‘‘ I planned for you to have 
one of the sections down there by yourself, perhaps, 
with two of the young ladies in the other. Will 
that do ? ” 

Of course it will — and finely, too,” declared 
the lady. “ Genevieve, you and I will go down 
there and take one of the girls with us — perhaps 
Bertha. That will leave your father for one up 
here, Elsie and Alma for another, and Tilly and 
Cordelia for the third.” 

‘‘ I knew she’d put you with Cordelia,” chuckled 
Bertha to Tilly, under cover of their scramble to 
pick out their suit-cases from the pile in which the 


SIX STAR RANCH 


47 


porter had left them. And I’m sure you ought to 
be,” she laughed. There’ll be some hopes then 
that you’ll be kept in order ! ” 

“ Just look to yourself,” retorted Tilly, serenely. 
‘‘ Mrs. Kennedy put you down there near her — 
remember that ! ” 

“ I declare, I felt just like an orange,” giggled 
Elsie, with all that talk about * sections.’ ” 

“ I don’t see where the shelves are,” whispered 
Cordelia, craning her short little neck to its full 
extent. 

‘‘ You’ll see them all right,” promised Tilly. 
Just wait till it’s dark, then — ‘ The goblins’ll get 
ye if ye don’t watch out ! ’ ” she quoted, with mock 
impressiveness. 

I feel as if I were ten years old, and playing 
house,” chirped Alma Lane, as she happily frowned 
over just the proper place for her bag. 

“ I feel as if it were all a dream, and that I shall 
wake up right at home,” breathed Cordelia. 
“ Seems as if it just couldn’t be true — that we’re 
really going to Texas! Oh, Genevieve, we can’t 
ever thank you and your father enough,” she fin- 
ished, as Genevieve came up the aisle. 

‘‘As if we wanted thanks, after what you’ve done 
for me ! ” cried Genevieve. “ Besides, you girls 
can’t be half so glad to go as I am to have you ! ” 
Some time later the porter began to make up the 
berths. 


48 SIX STAR RANCH 


Tilly nudged Cordelia violently. 

'' There’s shelf number one, Cordy. How do 
you think you’ll like it? ” she asked. 

Cordelia was too absorbed even to notice the 
hated Cordy.” With wide-eyed, breathless in- 
terest she was watching the porter. 

I think — it’s the most wonderful thing — I 
ever saw,” she breathed in an awe-struck voice. 

It was after the car was quiet that night that 
Genevieve, in her upper berth, pulled apart the 
heavy curtains and peeped out into the long narrow 
aisle between the swaying draperies. 

The train was moving very rapidly. The air was 
heavy and close. The night was an uncomfortably 
warm one. Genevieve had been too excited to sleep. 
Even yet it did not seem quite real — that the Happy 
Hexagons were all there with her, and that they 
were going to her far-away Texas home. 

With a sigh the girl fell back on her pillow, and 
tried to coax sleep to come to her. But sleep re- 
fused to come. Instead, the whole panorama of her 
Eastern winter unrolled itself before her, peopled 
with little fairy sprites, who danced with twinkling 
feet and smiled at her mockingly. 

Oh, yes, I know you,” murmured Genevieve, 
drowsily. “ I know you all. You — you little black 
one — you’re the cake I forgot in the oven, and let 
burn up. And you’re the lessons I didn’t learn — 
there are heaps of you! And you — you’re those 


SIX STAR RANCH 


49 


horrid scales I never could catch up with. My, how 
you run now! And you — you little shamed one 
over in the corner — you’re the prank I played on 
Miss Jane. . . . Oh, you can dance now — but you 
won’t, by and by! Next year there won’t be any of 
you — not a one left. I’m going to be so good, so 
awfully good ; and I’m not going to ever forget, or 
to cause anybody any trouble, or — ” 

With a start Genevieve sat erect in her berth, fully 
awake. 

Mercy! What a jounce that was! ” she cried, 
just above her breath. “ But we seem to be going 
all right now.” 

Cautiously she parted her curtains and peeped 
out again. The next instant she almost gave a little 
shriek : she was looking straight into Bertha 
Brown’s upraised, startled eyes, just below her. 

“ Was that an accident? ” chattered Bertha. I 
told you there’d be one ! I’m all dressed, anyhow — 
if ’tis ! ” 

Sh-h ! No, goosey,” chuckled Genevieve. 

She would have said more but, at that moment, 
from up the aisle sounded a sibilant “ S-s-s-s 1 ” 
They turned to see a somewhat untidy fluff of red 
hair above a laughing, piquant face. 

‘'It’s Tilly! She’s motioning to us. Say, let’s 
go,” whispered Genevieve. And cautiously she be- 
gan to let herself down from her perch. 

The next moment Bertha, fully dressed, and 


50 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Genevieve in her long, dark blue kimono, were trip- 
ping softly up the aisle. 

** Why, you’re both down here,” exulted Gene- 
vieve, as she climbed into the lower berth. 

‘‘Yes; Cordelia was afraid,” giggled Tilly, “so 
I came down.” 

“Tilly! — I was not,” disputed Cordelia, in an 
indignant whisper. “ You came of your own ac- 
cord.” 

“ Pooh I Tilly’s fooling, and we know it,” 
soothed Bertha, climbing into the berth after Gene- 
vieve. 

“ Why, Bertha Brown, you’ve got your shoes 
on!” gasped Tilly, forgetting to whisper. 

“ Of course I have,” retorted Bertha. “ Do you 
suppose — sh ! ” , 

There was a tug at the curtains, and Elsie Mar- 
tin’s round, good-natured face peered in. 

“ Well, I like this,” she bridled. “ A special 
meeting of the Hexagon Club, and me not notified ! 
I heard Genevieve and Bertha giggling in the aisle. 
Are you all here ? ” 

“ All but Alma,” rejoined Tilly, in an exultant 
whisper. “ Say, get her, too ! ” 

“ Well, now, if this isn’t just a lark,” crowed 
Bertha, gleefully, when the last of the six girls had 
crowded themselves into the narrow berth. 

“ Ouch ! my head,” groaned Genevieve, as a soft 
thud threw the other girls into stifled laughter. 


SIX STAR RANCH 51 


Pooh! I’ve been hitting my head against the 
up-stairs flat ever since I went to bed,” quoth Elsie. 

Isn’t it fun I Now let’s talk.” 

“ What about? ” 

“ Texas, of course,” cut in Tilly. Girls, girls, 
wouldn’t it be glorious to give our Texas yell, 
though, and see what happened ! ” 

'' Tilly I ” gasped the shocked Cordelia. 

“ Oh, I wasn’t going to, of course,” chuckled 
Tilly, softly. ‘‘ I was just imaginin’, you know.” 

“ But even this — I’m not sure we ought — ” be- 
gan Cordelia. 

No, of course not ; you never are, Cordy,” 
agreed Tilly, smoothly. 

“ But let’s talk Texas — we can whisper, you 
know. Tell us about Texas, Genevieve,” cut in 
pacifier Alma, hurriedly. ‘‘ What’s it like — the 
ranch ? ” 

Genevieve drew a happy sigh. 

“ Why, it’s like — it’s like nothing in Texas, we 
think,” she breathed. Of course we don’t think 
any other ranch could come up to the Six Star ! ” 

Tilly gave a sudden cry. 

“The what?” 

“ The Six Star — our ranch, you know.” 

“ You mean it’s named the ‘ Six Star Ranch ’? ” 
demanded Tilly. 

“ Sure! Didn’t I ever tell you? ” retorted Gene- 
vieve in plain surprise. 


52 SIX STAR RANCH 


Tilly clapped her hands softly. 

''Did you! Well, I should say not! You’ve al- 
ways called it just ' the ranch.’ And now — why, 
girls, don’t you see ? — it’s our ranch. It couldn’t 
have had a better name if we’d had it built to order. 
It’s the Six Star Ranch — and we’re the six star 
girls — the Happy Hexagons. And to think we 
never knew it before ! ” 

There was a chorus of half-stifled exclama- 
tions of delight ; then Cordelia demanded anx- 
iously : 

“ But, Genevieve, will they be glad to see us, 
really — all your people out there ? ” 

“ Glad ! I reckon they will be,” averred Gene- 
vieve, warmly. The boys will give us a rousing 
welcome, and there won’t be anything too good for 
Mr. Tim and Mammy Lindy to do.” 

‘‘ Who are they? ” asked Tilly. 

Mr. Tim is the ranch foreman, ‘ the boss,’ the 
boys call him. He’s been with us ever Since I can 
remember, and he’s so good to me ! Mammy Lindy 
is — well. Mammy Lindy is a dear ! You’ll love 
or Mammy. She’s been just a mother to me ever 
since my own mother died eight years ago.” Gene- 
vieve’s voice faltered a little, then went on more 
firmly. ‘‘ She’s a negro woman, you know. Her 
people were slaves, once.” 

“ And — the — boys ? ” asked Cordelia, dubi- 
ously. “ Are they your — brothers, Genevieve ? ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


53 


Genevieve laughed — a little more loudly than 
perhaps she realized. 

Brothers ! — v^^ell, hardly ! The boys are the 
cowboys — on the ranch, you know. My, but they’ll 
give us a welcome ! I reckon they’ll ride into town 
to give it, too, in all their war paint. Just you wait 
till you see the boys — and hear them ! ” And Gene- 
vieve laughed again. 

All in the dark Cordelia looked distinctly shocked ; 
but, being in the dark, nobody noticed it. 

‘‘Well, I for one just can’t wait,” began Tilly, 
hugging herself with her arms about her knees. 
“ Only think, it’ll be whole days now before we get 
there, and — ” 

“ Young ladies ! ” 

Tilly stopped with a little cry of dismay. A man’s 
voice had spoken close to her ear. 

“ Young ladies,” came the mellow tones again. “ I 
begs yo’ pardon, but de lady what belongs down in 
number ten says maybe you done forgot dat dis am 
a sleepin’ car.” 

“Aunt Julia!” breathed Genevieve. “She’s 
number ten.” 

“ She sent the porter,” gasped Cordelia. “ How 
• — how awful ! — and you’re in my house, too,” she 
almost sobbed. 

“ Now I know we’re playing house,” tittered 
Alma Lane, hysterically, as she followed Genevieve 
out of the berth. 


54 SIX STAR RANCH 


Once more in her own quarters, Genevieve lay 
back on her pillow with a remorseful sigh. 

I don’t see why it’s so much easier to say you’ll 
never give anybody any trouble than ’tis to do it,” 
she lamented, as she turned over with a jerk. 

The girls began the Chronicles of the Hexagon 
Club ” the next morning. Genevieve made the first 
entry. She dwelt at some length on the confusion 
of the train-taking, both at Sunbridge and Boston. 
She also had something to say of Tilly Mack. She 
gave a full account, too, of the midnight session 
of the Hexagon Club in Cordelia’s berth. 

And I’m ashamed that Aunt Julia had to be 
ashamed of me so soon,” she wrote contritely. 

Cordelia Wilson had agreed to make the second 
entry in the book; but the heat, the loss of sleep, 
and the strangeness and excitement added to her 
distress that her house ” should have been made 
to seem a disgrace in the eyes of the whole car, all 
conspired to make her feel so ill that she de- 
clared she could not think of writing for a day or 
two. 

‘‘Very well, then, you sha’n’t write; we’ll hand 
the book to Tilly,” said Genevieve, and then we’ll 
give it to some of the others. But I’ll tell you what 
we will do, Cordelia; you shall make the last entry 
in the book just before we leave the train at Bolo. 
And you can make it a sort of retrospect — a ‘re- 
view lesson ’ of the whole, you know.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


55 


** But I thought the others — won’t they each 
tell their day ? ” 

That’s just what they’ll tell — their day,” re- 
torted Genevieve, whimsically. “ You know what 
most of them are. Alma Lane would be all right, 
and would give a true description of everything; 
only she would go into particulars so, that she would 
tell everything she saw from the windows, and just 
what she had to eat all day, down to the last 
olive.” 

I know,” nodded Cordelia, with a faint smile. 

“As for Tilly — you can’t get real sense, of 
course, from her part. If there’s any nonsense go- 
ing, Tilly Mack will find it and trot it out. Bertha 
Brown will take up the most of her space by saying 
‘ I always said that — ’ etc., etc. Bertha is a dear 
— but you know she does just love to say ‘ I told 
you so.’ Elsie will write clothes, of course. We 
shall find out what everybody has on when Elsie 
writes.” 

Cordelia laughed aloud — then clapped her hand 
to her aching head. 

“You poor dear! What a shame,” sympathized 
Genevieve. “ But, Cordelia, why does Elsie think 
so much of clothes? Mercy! for my part I think 
they’re the most tiresome sort of things to bother 
with; and it’s such a waste of time to be having 
to change your dress always ! ” 

Cordelia smiled; then her face sobered. 


56 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Poor Elsie ! Pm sorry for Elsie. She does 
have such an unhappy time over clothes.” 

Why ? How ? — or isn’t it fair to tell ? ” added 
Genevieve, with quick loyalty. 

Oh, yes, it’s fair. Everybody knows it, ’most, 
and I supposed you did. Elsie herself tells of it. 
You know she lives with her aunt, Mrs. Gale. 
Well, Mrs. Gale has three daughters, Fannie, about 
twenty-one, I guess, and the twins, nineteen; and 
she just loves to make over their things for Elsie — 
so she does it.” 

“ Are they so very — poor, then ? ” 

“ Oh, no ; they aren’t poor at all. I don’t think 
she really has to do it. Aunt Mary says she’s just 
naturally thrifty, and that she loves to make them 
over. But you see, poor Elsie almost never has 
a new dress — of new material, I mean. Now 
Elsie loves red ; but Fannie wears blue a lot, 
and the twins like queer shades like faded-out 
greens and browns which Elsie abhors. Poor 
Elsie — no wonder she’s always looking at 
clothes ! ” 

“ Hm-m ; no wonder,” nodded Genevieve, her 
pitying eyes on Elsie far down the aisle — Elsie, 
who, in a mustard-colored striped skirt and pongee 
blouse, was at that moment trying to perk up the 
loppy blue bows on a somewhat faded tan straw 
hat. Well, anyhow,” added Genevieve, with a 
sigh, “ just remember, Cordelia, that you’re to do 


SIX STAR RANCH 


57 


the last day of the trip in the dhronicles. Now lie 
down and give your poor head a rest.’’ 

Long before the last day of the journey came, 
Cordelia had quite recovered from her headache; 
but, in accordance with Genevieve’s plan, she did 
not add her share to the Chronicles until the ap- 
pointed time. Then, with almost a reverent air, 
she accepted the book and pen from Genevieve’s 
hands, and returned to the seclusion of her seat, 
rejoicing that Tilly was playing checkers with 
Bertha, and so would not, presumably, disturb her 
— for a time, at least. 

To-day, at noon, we are to arrive at Bolo,” she 
wrote a little unevenly; then with a firmer hand 
she went on. “ Genevieve says this ought to be a 
retrospect, and touch lightly upon the whole trip; 
so I will try to make it so. 

'' It has been a beautiful journey. Nothing seri- 
ous has happened, though Bertha has worn her shoes 
all the time expecting it. The best thing, so far, 
was our lovely day in Washington that Mr. Hartley 
gave us, and the President. (I mean, we saw him 
and he smiled.) And the worst thing (except that 
first night in my berth that Genevieve wrote of) 
was the time we lost Tilly for three whole hours, 
and Mrs. Kennedy got so nervous and white and 
frightened. We supposed, of course, she had fallen 
off, 6r jumped off, or got left off at some station. 


58 


SIX STAR RANCH 


But just as we were talking with the porter about 
telegraphing everywhere, she danced in with two 
very untidy, unclean little Armenian children. It 
seems she had been in the emigrant car all the time 
playing with the children and trying to make the 
men and women talk their queer English. I never 
knew that gentle Mrs. Kennedy could speak so 
sharply as she did then to Tilly. 

‘‘And now — since Tuesday, some time — we 
have really been in Texas. Some things look just 
like Eastern things, but others are so strange and 
queer. It is very hot — I mean, very warm, too. 
But then, we have just as warm days in Sunbridge, 
I guess. The windmills look so queer — there are 
such a lot of them ; but they look pretty, too. Some 
of the towns are very pretty, also, with their red 
roofs and blue barns and houses. Genevieve says 
lots of them are German villages. 

“ In some places lots of things are growing, but 
in others it is all just gray and bare-looking with 
nothing much growing except those queer prairie- 
dog cities with the funny little creatures sitting on 
top of their houses, or popping down into their 
holes only to turn around and look at you out of 
their bright little eyes. We had a splendid chance 
to see them once when our train stopped right in 
the middle of a prairie for a long time. We got off 
and walked quite a way with Mr. Hartley. I saw 
a rattlesnake, and I’m afraid I screamed. I 


SIX STAR RANCH 59 


screamed again when the horrid thing wiggled into 
one of the dog houses. Mr. Hartley says they live 
together sometimes, but if I were that dog he 
wouldn’t live with me! 

We have seen lots of cattle and goats and hogs 
— though Tilly says she hasn’t seen any of the 
latter under any gate yet. I have seen a mesquite 
tree (so I have done one of my things), and it does 
have thorns. We are on another prairie now, and 
oh, how big it is, and such a lot of grass as there 
is on it — just as far as you can see, grass, grass, 
grass ! I guess there won’t be any danger of my not 
having plenty of that to take home. I have seen 
lots of men on horseback, but I don’t know whether 
they were cowboys or not. They did not shoot, any- 
way, but some of them did yell. 

Genevieve says cowboys are to meet us, and 
that probably they will come away to Bolo in full 
war paint. I thought it was only Indians who 
painted — except silly ladies, of course — and I was 
going to say so; but Tilly was there, so I didn’t 
like to. Of course I ought not- to mind the cow- 
boys — if Genevieve likes them, and they are her 
friends; but I can’t help remembering what Mrs. 
Miller told me about their ‘ shooting up towns ’ in 
a very dreadful way when they were angry. I hope 
none of the men I want to find will turn out to be 
cowboys.” (Here there were signs of an attempted 
erasure, but the words still stood, and immediately 


60 


SIX STAR RANCH 


after them came another sentence. ) “ That is, I 

mean I should hate to find that any friends of mine 
had become cowboys. 

I have just been reading over what I have writ- 
ten, and I am disappointed in it. I am sure I ought 
to have mentioned a great many things about which 
I have been silent. But there were so many things, 
and they all crowded at once before me, so that I 
had to just touch on the big things and the tall 
things — like windmills, for instance. 

‘‘ We are getting hearer Bolo now, and I must 
stop and eat some luncheon, Genevieve says, as we 
sha’n’t have anything else till supper on the ranch. 
Oh, I am so excited! Seems as if I couldn’t draw 
a breath deep enough. And the idea of trying to 
eat when I feel like this I ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


61 


CHAPTER V 

THE BOYS PREPARE A WELCOME 

On the back gallery of the long, low ranch house, 
the boys were waiting for Teresa to ring the bell 
for supper. Comfortably they lolled about on ham- 
mocks, chairs, and steps, with their shirts open at 
the neck and plentifully powdered with the dust of 
the corral. 

From the doorway, Tim Nolan, the ranch fore- 
man, spoke to them hurriedly. 

See here, boys. I’m right sorry, but I’ve got to 
see Benson to-morrow about those steers. That 
means that I’ve got to go as far as Bolo to-night, 
and that I sha’n’t be back in time to start with the 
rest of you to meet the folks. But I’ll see you in 
Bolo day after to-morrow at noon. The train is 
due then. Now be on hand, all of you that can. 
We want Miss Genevieve and her friends to have a 
right royal welcome. I reckon now I’d better be 
off. So long! Now remember — day after to- 
morrow at noon ! ” he finished, turning away. 

"As if we’d be a-forgettin’ it,” grinned Long 
John, a tall, lank fellow sprawled in a hammock. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


when the little mistress hain’t set her pretty foot 
on the place since last August ! ” 

‘‘If only she wa’n’t bringin’ all them others/' 
groaned the short, sandy-haired man on the steps. 
“ I’d just like to rope the whole bunch and send ’em 
back East again, old lady and all — all but the little 
mistress, of course. Boys, what are we a-goin’ to 
do with an old lady — even though she ain’t so 
awful old — and five tom-fool girls on the Six Star 
Ranch ? ” 

“ Ees not the Senorita a gurrl, also? ” laughed a 
dark-eyed Mexican from his perch on the gallery 
railing. “Eh, Reddy?” 

“ Sure, Pedro,” retorted the sandy-haired man, 
testily. (Pedro was the only Mexican cowboy at 
the ranch, and even he was barely tolerated.) “ But 
the little mistress ain’t no tenderfoot girl. She don’t 
howl at a rattlesnake nor jump at a prairie dog; 
and she knows how to ride, and which end of a gun 
goes off ! 

There was a general laugh, followed by a long 
silence — the boys did not usually talk so much to- 
gether, but to-night a curious restlessness pervaded 
them all. Suddenly the tall man in the hammock 
pulled himself erect. 

“ Look a-here, boys, that’s jest it,” he began in a 
worried voice. “ What if the little mistress has 
changed? What if she hain’t no use for us and the 
ranch any more? I never told ye, but at the first. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


63 


last August, ’fore she went away, I heard the boss 
and Mr. Hartley a-talkin’. They was sayin’ she’d 
got to go East to learn how to live like a lady 
should — to know girls, and books, and all that. 
They said she was runnin’ wild here with only us 
for playmates, and that they had just got ter pas- 
ture her out where the grass was finer, and the 
fences nearer tergether.” 

“Did they say — that?” gasped half a dozen 
worried voices. 

“ They sure did — and more. They said two 
real ladies was a-goin’ ter take her and make her 
like themselves — a lady. And, boys, I was won- 
derin’ — how is a lady goin’ ter like us, and the 
ranch ? ” 

There was a moment’s tense silence. The boys 
were staring, wide-eyed and appalled, into each 
other’s faces. 

From somewhere came a deep sigh. 

“ Gorry ! — she can’t, she just can’t, after all 
her book-learnin’ and culturin’,” groaned a new 
voice. 

For a time no one spoke ; then Reddy cleared his 
throat. 

“ Look a-here, there ain’t but jest one thing to 
do. If she don’t like the ranch — and us — we’ll 
jest have to make the ranch — and us — so she will 
like ’em.” 

“ How ? ” demanded a skeptical chorus. 


64 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘‘ Slick 'em up — and us,” retorted the sandy- 
haired man, with finality. “ I was raised East, and 
I know the sort of doin’s they hanker after. To- 
morrow mornin' we’ll begin. I’ll show you; you’ll 
see,” he finished in a louder tone, as Teresa’s clang- 
ing supper bell sent them in a stampede through 
the long covered way that led to the dining-room 
which, with the cook room, occupied the large, low 
building thirty feet to the rear of the ranch house. 

When Tim Nolan arrived at the Bolo station a 
little before noon two days later, he stared in open- 
mouthed wonder at the sight that greeted his eyes. 
In a wavering, straggling line stood ten stiff, red- 
faced, miserable men, dressed in what was, to Tim 
Nolan, the strangest assortment of garments he had 
ever seen. 

Two of the men were in dead black, from head 
to foot. Four wore stiff, not over-clean white shirts. 
Six sported flaming red neckties. One had un- 
earthed from somewhere a frock coat three sizes 
too small for him, which he wore very proudly, 
however, over a flannel shirt adorned with a red- 
and-green silk handkerchief knotted at the throat. 
Another displayed a somewhat battered silk hat. 
But, whatever they wore, each showed a face upon 
which hope, despair, pride, shame, and physical 
misery were curiously blended. 

For an instant Tim Nolan peered at them with 


SIX STAR RANCH 


65 


unrecognizing eyes; then he gave a low ejacula- 
tion. 

'‘Reddy! Carlos! Jim! Boys!’’ he gasped. 
" What in the world is the meaning of this ? ” 

" Eet ees that we welcome the little Sehorita an’ 
her frien’s,” bowed Pedro, doffing his sombrero 
which was the only part of his usual costume that 
he had retained. 

“ But — I don’t understand,” demurred the fore- 
man ; " these rigs of yours ! Reddy, where in time 
did you corral that coat ? ” 

Reddy shifted from one uneasy foot to the other. 

" Pedro’s told you — we’re here to welcome the 
little mistress, of course. We’ve slicked up. We — 
we didn’t want the shock too sudden — from the 
East, you know.” 

For another moment Tim Nolan stared; then 
he threw back his head and laughed — laughed till 
the faces of the men before him grew red with 
something more than discomfort. 

At that moment a pretty young girl in khaki and 
a cowboy hat made her appearance astride a frisky 
little mustang. She wore a cartridge belt about her 
waist — though there was no revolver in her holster. 

" Is Genevieve coming to-day, sure ? ” she called 
out joyfully. " I heard she was, and I’ve come to 
meet her.” 

“ There, boys,” bantered the ranch foreman, 
" now here’s a young lady who knows how to wel- 


66 


SIX STAR RANCH 


come the mistress of the Six Star Ranch ! ” Then, 
to the girl : '' Sure, Miss Susie, we do expect Gene- 
vieve, and we’re here to welcome her, as you see,” 
he finished with a sweep of his broad-brimmed 
hat. 

It looked, for a moment, as if the wavering, strag- 
gling men would break ranks and run; but a sud- 
den distant whistle, and a sharp command from 
Reddy brought them right about face. 

“ Buck up, boys,” he ordered sharply. ‘‘ I reckon 
the little mistress ain’t a-goin’ ter turn us down! 
She’ll like it. You’ll see! ” 

The train had scarcely come to a stop before 
Genevieve was off the car steps. 

Mr. Tim, Mr. Tim — here I am! Oh, how 
good you look ! ” she cried, holding out both her 
hands. A minute later she turned to introduce the 
embarrassed foreman to Mrs. Kennedy and the girls, 
who, with her father, were following close at her 
heels. This task was not half completed, however, 
when she spied the red-faced, anxious-eyed men. 

As Mr. Tim had done, she stared dumbly for a 
moment; then, leaving the rest of the introductions 
to her father, she ran toward them. 

“ Why, it’s the boys — our boys ! Carlos, Long 
John, Reddy ! But what is the matter? How queer 
you look ! Is anybody sick — or — > dead? ” she 
stammered, plainly in doubt what to say. 

‘‘ Sure, it’s for you — we’re a-welcomin’ you,” 


SIX STAR RANCH 67 


exploded Long John, jerking at his collar which was 
obviously too small for him. 

Genevieve’s face showed a puzzled frown. 

“ But these clothes ! — why are you like this? — 
and after all I’ve promised the girls about you, too 1 ” 

“You mean — you don’t like it — this?” de- 
manded Reddy, incredulous hope in his eyes and 
voice. 

“ Of course I don’t like it ! I’ve been promising 
the girls all the way here that you’d give them a 
welcome that was a welcome ! And now — but why 
did you do it, boys ? ” 

Long John drew himself to his full height. 

“ Why ? ’Cause Reddy said to,” he answered. 
“ Reddy said we’d better ease up on the shock it 
would be to you — here, after all you’d been used 
to back East — fine clothes, fine feed, and fine doin’s 
all around, to say nothin’ of books and learnin’ in 
between times; so we — we tried to break ye in 
easy. That’s all,” he finished, a little lamely. 

“ And then these clothes mean — that ? ” de- 
manded the girl. 

Long John nodded dumbly. 

Genevieve gave a ringing laugh, but her eyes 
grew soft as she extended her hand to each man in 
turn. 

“ What old dears you are — every one of you ! ” 
she exclaimed. “ Now go home quick, and get 
comfortable.” She would have said more, but some 


68 


SIX STAR RANCH 


one called her and she turned abruptly. Cordelia 
Wilson, looking half frightened, half exultant, but 
wholly excited, was pulling at her sleeve. 

Genevieve, Genevieve, quick,” she was panting; 

is that a cowboy — that, over there — talking to 
your father ? ” 

Genevieve turned with a wondering frown. The 
next moment she burst into a merry laugh. 

Oh, Cordelia, Cordelia, you will be the death of 
me, yet! No, that isn’t a cowboy. It’s Susie Bill- 
ings. She lives on a ranch near here.” 

A girl — dressed like that — and carrying a 
revolver! Just a common ‘Susie!’” gasped Cor- 
delia. 

“Yes — just a common ‘ Susie,^ ” twinkled 
Genevieve. 

“ But I thought she was a — a cowboy,” quavered 
Cordelia. “ You said they’d be here in — in all 
their war paint ! ” 

From behind them sounded a muffled snort and 
a low-voiced : 

“ Boys, she thinks that’s a cowboy ! Come on — 
say we show ’em ! Eh ? ” 

Genevieve laughed softly at what Cordelia had 
said, and at the disappointment in her voice. 

“Cowboys? Well, they are here,” she acknowl- 
edged with twitching lips, “ and in their war paint, 
too — of a kind ! They’re right here — Why, 
they’re gone” she broke off. “ Never mind,” she 


SIX STAR RANCH 


69 


laughed, as she caught sight of a silk hat and a black 
coat hurrying toward a group of saddled ponies. 
“ I reckon you’ll see all the cowboys you want to 
before you go back East again. Now come up and 
meet Susie — and she hasn’t, really, any revolver 
there, Cordelia, in spite of that cartridge belt and 
holster. She’s always rigging up that way. She 
likes it ! ” 

Susie proved to be a girl just like us,” as Cor- 
delia amazedly expressed it to Alma Lane. She 
was certainly a very pleasant one, they all decided. 
But even Susie could not keep their eyes from wan- 
dering to the unfamiliar scene around them. 

It was a bare little station set in the midst of a 
bare little prairie town, and quite unlike anything 
the Easterners had ever seen before. Broad, dusty 
streets led seemingly nowhere. Low, straggling 
houses stretched out lazy lengths of untidihess, ex- 
cept where a group of taller, more pretentious build- 
ings indicated the stores, a hotel or two, several 
boarding houses, and numerous saloons and dance 
halls. 

From the station doorway, a blanketed Indian 
looked out with stolid, unsmiling face. Leaning 
against a post a dreamy-eyed Mexican in tight 
trousers, red sash, and tall peaked hat, smoked a 
cigarette. Halfway down the platform a tired- 
looking man in heavy cowhide boots and rough 
clothes, watched beside a huge canvas-topped wagon 


70 


SIX STAR RANCH 


beyond which could be seen the switching tails of 
six great oxen. 

There’s Fred’s ‘ boat,’ ” remarked Bertha, 
laughingly, to Cordelia. 

Where ? What ? Cordelia had been trying to 
look in all directions at once. 

‘‘ That prairie schooner down there.” 

“ Now that looks like the pictures,” asserted 
Cordelia. “ I wonder if the cowboys will.” 

‘‘ I declare, the whole thing is worse than a three- 
ring circus,” declared Tilly, aggrievedly, to Gene- 
vieve. ‘‘ I simply can’t see everything ! ” 

** All aboard for the ranch,” called Mr. Hartley, 
leading the way around to the other side of the 
station; and like a flock of prairie chickens, as 
Genevieve put it, they all trooped after him. 

“Why, what funny horses! ” cried Tilly, as Mr. 
Hartley stopped before a large, old-fashioned three- 
seated carriage drawn up to the platform. 

At Genevieve’s chuckling laugh, Tilly threw a 
sharper glance toward the two gray creatures at- 
tached to the carriage. 

“ Why, they aren’t horses at all — yes, they are 
— no, they aren’t, either ! ” 

“ I always heard young ladies were a bit change- 
able,” grinned Tim Nolan, mischievously; “but do 
they always change their minds as often as that. 
Miss?” 

“ Yes, they do — when the occasion demands it,” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


71 


retorted Tilly, with a merry glance; and Tim Nolan 
laughed appreciatively. 

‘‘ Well, they aren’t horses,” smiled Mr. Hartley, 
as he gave his hand to help Mrs. Kennedy into the 
carriage. “ They happen to be mules. Now, Miss 
Tilly, if you’ll come in here with Mrs. Kennedy, 
we’ll put two other young ladies and myself in the 
other two seats, and leave Genevieve to do the 
honors in one of the ranch wagons with the rest of 
you. The baggage, the boys are already putting in 
the other wagon, I see,” he added, looking back to 
where two men were busy with a pile of trunks and 
bags. They’ll come along after us. Mr. Tim is 
on his horse, of course. We’ll let him show us the 
way. Now stow yourselves comfortably,” he ad- 
monished his guests. You know we have an 
eighteen-mile ride ahead of us ! ” 


72 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER VI 

CORDELIA SEES A COWBOY 

Through the broad, dusty streets, by the strag- 
gling houses, and out on to the boundless sea of 
grass trailed the carriage and the ranch wagons, 
with Mr. Tim in the lead. 

Five pairs of eyes grew wide with wonder and 
awe. 

‘‘ I didn’t suppose anything in the world could be 
so — so far,” breathed Cordelia, who was with Mr. 
Hartley on the front seat of the carriage. 

‘‘No wonder Genevieve was always talking about 
‘ space, wide, wide space,’ ” cried Bertha. “ Why, 
it’s just like the ocean — only more so, because 
there aren’t any waves.” 

“ As if anything could be more like the ocean 
than the ocean itself,” giggled Tilly. 

Mr. Hartley laughed good-naturedly. 

“ Never mind. Miss Bertha,” he nodded. “ Just 
you wait till there’s a little more wind, and you’ll 
see some waves, I reckon. It’s mighty still just 
now; and yet — there, look! Over there to the 
right — see ? ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 73 


They all looked, and they all saw. They saw far 
in the distance the green change to gray, and the 
gray to faint purple, and back again to green, while 
curious shifting lights and shadows glancing across 
the waving blades of grass, made them ripple like 
water in the sunlight. At the same time, from 
somewhere, came a soft, cool wind. 

‘‘ Why, it is — it is just like the ocean,’’ exulted 
Cordelia. “ I’ve seen it look like that down to Nan- 
tasket, ’way, ’way off at sea.” 

‘‘ I told you ’twas,” triumphed Bertha. 

‘‘ Well, anyway,” observed Tilly, demurely, 
“ they must be awfully dry waves — not much fun 
to jump ! ” 

Tilly, how can you?” protested Cordelia. 
“ How you do take the poetry out of anything ! 
I believe you’d take the poetry out of — of Shake- 
speare himself! ” 

Pooh ! Never saw much in him to take out,” 
shrugged Tilly. 

‘‘ Tilly I ” gasped Cordelia. 

‘‘ Tilly can’t see poetry in anything that doesn’t 
jingle like ' If you love me as I love you, no knife 
can cut our love in two,’ ” chanted Bertha. 

My dears 1 ” remonstrated Mrs. Kennedy, 
feebly. 

Tilly turned with swift pacification. 

Don’t you worry, Mrs. Kennedy. I’m used to 
it. They can’t trouble me any ! ” 


74 


SIX STAR RANCH 


It was Mr. Hartley who broke the silence that 
followed. 

“ Well, Miss Cordelia,” he asked laughingly, 
what is the matter? You’ve been peering in all 
directions, and you look as if you hadn’t found 
what you were hunting for. You weren’t expect- 
ing to find soda fountains and candy stores on the 
prairie, were you ? ” 

Cordelia smiled and shook her head. 

Of course not, Mr. Hartley! I was looking for 
the blue bonnets — the flowers, you know. Gene- , 
vieve said they grew wild all through the prairie 
grass.” 

“ And so they do — specially, early in the spring, 
my dear. I wish you could see them, then.” 

I wish I could — Genevieve has told me so 
much about them. She says they’re the state flower. 

I thought they had such a funny name; I wanted 
to pick one, if I could. She says they’re lovely, 
too.” 

“ They are, indeed, and I wish you could see 
them when they are at their best,” rejoined Mr. 
Hartley; then he turned to Bertha, who had been 
listening with evident interest. ‘‘ In the spring it’s 
a blue ocean. Miss Bertha — I wish you could see I 
the wind sweep across it then! And I wish you 
could smell it, too,” he added with a laugh. “ I | 
reckon you wouldn’t think it much like your salty, 
fishy east wind,” he finished, twinkling. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


75 


Oh, but we just love that salty, fishy east wind, 
every time we go near the shore,” retorted a chorus 
of loyal Eastern voices; and Mr. Hartley laughed 
again. 

In the ranch wagon behind them, Genevieve was 
doing the honors of the prairie right royally. Here, 
there, and everywhere she was pointing out some- 
thing of interest. In the ranch wagon, too, the 
marvelous hush and charm of limitless distance had 
wrought its own spell; and all had fallen silent. 

It was Alma Lane who broke the pause. 

“ What are all those deep, narrow paths, such a 
lot of them, running parallel to the wheel tracks ? ” 
she asked curiously. “ I’ve been watching them ever 
since we left Bolo. They are on both sides, too.” 

'' They’re made by the cattle,” answered Gene- 
vieve ; such a lot of them, you know, traveling 
single file on their way to Bolo. Bolo is a ‘ cow 
town ’ — that is, they ship cattle to market from 
there.” 

“ Poor things,” sighed Elsie, sympathetically. 
** I saw some yesterday from the train. I thought 
then I never wanted to eat another piece of beef- 
steak — and I adore beefsteak, too.” 

Genevieve sobered a little. 

“ I know it; I know just how you feel. I hate 
that part — but it’s business, I suppose. I reckon 
I hate business, anyhow — but I love the ranch ! 
I can’t get used to the branding, either.” 


76 


SIX STAR RANCH 


What’s that? ” asked Elsie. 

Genevieve shook her head. A look of pain crossed 
her face. 

“ Don’t ask me, Elsie, please. You’ll find out 
soon enough. Branding is business, too, I sup- 
pose — but it’s horrid. Mammy Lindy says that 
the first time I saw our brand on a calf and realized 
what it meant and how it got there, I cried for 
hours — for days, in fact, much of the time.” 

Why, Genevieve,” cried Elsie, wonderingly. 

How dreadful! What is a brand? I thought 
' brand ’ meant the kind of coffee or tea one drank.” 

Alma frowned and threw a quick look into Gene- 
vieve’s face. 

What a funny little town Bolo is ! ” she ex- 
claimed, with a swift change of subject. I de- 
clare, it looked ’most as sleepy as Sunbridge.” 

“ Sleepy! ” laughed Genevieve, her face clearing, 
much to Alma’s satisfaction. ‘‘ You should see Bolo 
when it’s really awake — say when some association 
of cattlemen meet there. And there’s going to be 
one next month, I think. There’s no end of fun 
and frolic and horse-racing then, with everybody 
there, from the cowboys and cattle-kings to the 
trappers and Indians. You wouldn’t think there 
was anything sleepy about Bolo then, I reckon,” 
nodded Genevieve, gayly. 

“ Genevieve, quick — look ! — off there,” cried 
Elsie, excitedly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


77 


“ Some more of Fred’s ‘ boats ’ — three of them 
this time,” laughed Alma, her eyes on the three 
white-topped wagons glistening in the sunlight. 

‘‘ Boats ? ” questioned Genevieve. 

‘‘ That’s what little Fred Wilson told us we were 
going to ride in,” explained Alma. He said they 
had prairie schooners here, and schooners were 
boats, of course.” 

Genevieve laughed merrily. 

“ I wish Fred could see these ‘boats,’ ” she said. 

“Well, I don’t know; I feel as if they were 
boats,” declared Alma, stoutly. “ Fm sure I don’t 
think anybody on the ocean could be any more glad 
to see a sail than I should be to see one of these, 
if I were a lonely traveler on this sea of grass ! ” 

“ But where are they going ? ” questioned Elsie. 

“ I don’t know — nor do they, probably,” re- 
joined Genevieve, with a quizzical smile. “ They’re 
presumably emigrants hunting up cheap land for a 
new home. There used to be lots of them. Father 
says ; but there aren’t so many now. See — they’re 
going to cross our way just ahead of us. We’ll get 
a splendid view of them.” 

Nearer and nearer came the curiously clumsy, 
yet curiously airy-looking wagons. Sallow-faced 
women looked out mournfully, and tow-headed 
children peeped from every vantage point. Brawny, 
but weary-looking men stalked beside their teams. 

“ Look at the men — walking! ” cried Elsie. 


78 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ They’re ^ bull-whackers/ ” nodded Genevieve, f 
mischievously. | 

“ Bull-whackers ! ” 

‘‘ Yes, because their teams happen to be oxen ; 
if they were mules, now, they’d be ‘ mule-skin- 
ners.’ ” I 

‘‘ Is that what you are, then ? ” asked Elsie, with j 
a demureness that rivaled Tilly’s best efforts, j 
‘‘ You’re driving mules, you know.” 

Well, you better not call me that,” laughed || 
Genevieve. See, they’ve stopped to speak to i| 
Father. I reckon we’ll have to stop, too.” i! 

“ I ‘ reckon ’ we shall,” mimicked Elsie, good- 
naturedly. ] 

They’ve got all their household goods and gods I 
in those wagons,” said Genevieve, musingly. “ I I 
can see a tin coffeepot hanging straight over one | 
woman’s head.” ! 

I shouldn’t think they had anything but chil- I 
dren,” laughed Alma, as from every wagon there 
tumbled a scrambling, squirming mass of barefoot | 
legs, thin brown arms, and touseled hair above wide, j 

questioning eyes. 1 

Long minutes later, from the carriage, Cordelia 
Wilson followed with dreamy eyes the slow-receding 
wagons, now again upon their way. 

‘‘ I feel just like ‘ ships that pass in the night,’ ” 
she murmured. 

‘‘ I don’t. I feel just like supper,” whispered 


SIX STAR RANCH 


79 


Tilly. Then she laughed at the frightened look 
Cordelia flung at Mr. Hartley. 

On and on through the shimmering heat, under 
the cloudless sky, trailed the carriage and the ranch 
wagons. Mr. Tim had long ago galloped out of 
sight. 

It was when they were within five miles of the 
ranch that Cordelia, looking far ahead, saw against 
the horizon a rapidly growing black speck. For 
some time she watched it in silence ; then, suddenly, 
she became aware that, large as was the speck now, 
it had broken into other specks — bobbing, shifting 
specks that promptly became not specks at all, but 
men on horseback. 

Spasmodically she clutched Mr. Hartley’s arm. 

What — are — those ? ” she questioned, with 
dry lips. 

Mr. Hartley gave an indifferent glance ahead. 

Cowboys, I should say,” he answered. 

Cordelia caught her breath. At that moment a 
shot rang out, then another, and another. 

Mr. Hartley looked up now, sharply, a little 
angrily. The indifference was quite gone from his 
face. 

It was then that Genevieve’s voice came clear and 
strong from the wagon behind. 

‘‘It’s the boys. Father — our boys!” she called. 
“ I know it’s the boys. I told them I’d promised 
the girls a welcome, and they’re giving it to us! ” 


80 SIX STAR RANCH 


By George ! it is our boys/’ breathed Mr. Hart- 
ley. And the scowl on his face gave way to a 
broad smile. 

Is it really all — fun ? ” quavered Cordelia, 
breathlessly. 

Every bit,” Mr. Hartley assured her. And 
then — though still breathlessly — Cordelia gave 
herself up to the excitement of the moment. 

They were all about them soon — those lithe, 
supple figures, swaying lightly, or sitting superbly 
erect in their saddles. From the top of their broad- 
brimmed hats to the tips of their high-heeled cow- 
boy boots they were a wonder and a joy to the 
amazed eyes of Cordelia. With stirrups so long 
the chains clanked musically, they galloped back and 
forth, shouting, laughing, and shooting wildly into 
the air. With their chaparejos, or leather overalls, 
their big revolvers, their spurs, their bright silk 
handkerchiefs knotted loosely around their necks 
over the open collar of their flannel shirts, they made 
a brave show, indeed. Nor was the least of the 
wonders about them the graceful swirls of loosely- 
coiled lariats hanging from the horns of their sad- 
dles. 

After all, it lasted only a minute before the re- 
volvers were thrust into the waiting holsters, and 
before the men, bareheaded, were making a sweep- 
ing bow from their saddles. 

It was Genevieve who led the clapping. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


81 


“ Oh, boys, thank you ! That was fine — just 
fine ! ” she crowed. “ Now I reckon Cordelia thinks 
she has seen a cowboy all right ! 

And Cordelia did. A little white, but bravely 
smiling, she was sitting erect, apparently serene. 
And only Mr. Hartley knew that one of her hands 
was clutched about his arm in a grasp that actually 
hurt. 

“ They did that — all that shooting and yelling — 
just for a joke, then?” she asked Mr. Hartley, a 
little later. 

“ Only that. They were giving you a welcome 
to the Six Star Ranch.” 

Then they don’t act like that all the time ? ” 

“Hardly!” laughed the man. “I reckon they 
wouldn’t get much work done if they did.” 

Cordelia drew a relieved sigh. Her eyes, a little 
less fearful, rested on the erect figure of the nearest 
cowboy, just to the right of the carriage. 

“ I’m so glad,” she murmured. “ I’ll tell Mrs. 
Miller. She thought they did, you know — yell al- 
ways without just and due provocation, and shoot 
at sight.” 

The man’s lips twitched; but the next moment 
they grew a bit stern at the corners. 

“ That’s exactly it. Miss Cordelia — exactly the 
idea that some people have of the boys, and I’ll 
grant that when they — they drink too much 
whiskey, they aren’t exactly what you might call 


82 


SIX STAR RANCH 


peaceable, desirable companions — though three- 
fourths of their antics then are caused by reckless 
high spirits rather than by real ugliness — with ex- 
ceptions, of course. But when sober they are quiet, 
straightforward, generous-hearted good fellows, 
hard-working and honest; certainly my boys are.’^ 

Mr. Hartley hesitated, then went on, still gravely. 

“ There’s just as much difference in ranches, of 
course. Miss Cordelia, as there is in folks; and all 
the ranches are changing fast, anyway, nowadays. 
Lots of the owners are quitting living on them at 
all. They’ve gone into the towns to live. On the 
Six Star the boys take their meals with the family; 
and in many places they don’t do that, I know, even 
where the owner lives on the ranch. Our boys are 
very loyal to us, and very much interested in all 
that concerns us. They fairly worship Genevieve, 
and have, all the way up.” 

“ I’m so glad,” murmured Cordelia, again ; and 
this time there was a look very much like admira- 
tion in the eyes that rested on Long John just 
ahead. 

It was some time later that Mr. Hartley said, 
half turning around : 

Look straight ahead, a little to the right, young 
ladies, and you’ll get a very good' view of the Six 
Star Ranch.” 

Oh, and you’ve got a windmill,” cried Tilly. 

I can see it against the sky ; I know I can ! ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


83 


Yes, weVe got a windmill,” nodded Mr. Hart- 
ley. 

I love windmills,” exulted Cordelia. 

‘‘ So does Genevieve,” observed Mr. Hartley, 
raising his eyebrows a little. 

Only Cordelia noticed the odd smile he gave as he 
spoke, and she did not know what it meant. Later, 
however, she remembered it. She was too much 
excited now to think of anything but the fact that 
the Six Star Ranch was so near. 

Bertha craned her neck to look ahead. 

‘‘ Only think, we haven’t passed a house, not a 
house since we left Bolo,” she cried. 

Mr. Hartley smiled. 

You see, Miss Bertha, Bolo, eighteen miles 
away, is our nearest neighbor; and you’ll have to 
go even farther than that in any other direction 
to strike another neighbor.” 

My stars ! ” gasped Bertha. '' How awful lone- 
some it must be, Mr. Hartley.” 

Anyhow, you can’t be much bothered with 
neighbors running in to borrow two eggs and a 
little soda, can you? ” giggled Tilly. 

‘'No; that isn’t one of the difficulties we have 
to deal with,” smiled Mr. Hartley; but Bertha 
bridled visibly. 

“ Well, really, Tilly Mack,” she exclaimed in pre- 
tended anger, “ I should like to know if you mean 
anything special! You see,” she added laughingly 


84 


SIX STAR RANCH 


to Mr. Hartley, ‘‘ I happen to live next to Tilly, 
myself ! 

From both carriage and wagon, now, came a 
babel of eager chatter. There was so much to be 
seen on the one hand, so much to be explained on 
the other. The buildings and corrals were plainly 
visible by this time, and each minute they became 
more clearly defined. 

‘‘ Do you mean that all that belongs to just one 
ranch? demanded Tilly. 

"‘Sure!"’ twinkled Mr. Hartley. “You see, if 
folks can’t borrow of us, we can’t borrow of them, 
either ; so it’s rather necessary that we have all the 
comforts of home ourselves.” 

“ Well, I guess you’ve got them,” laughed Tilly, 
looking wonderingly about her. 

“ I reckon we have,” nodded Mr. Hartley, as he 
began to point out one and another of the buildings. 

There was the long, low ranch house facing the 
wide reach of the prairie. Behind it, and connected 
with it by a covered way, were the dining room and 
the cook room. Beyond that was the long bunk 
house where the men slept, flanked by another build- 
ing for the Mexican servants. There were stables, 
sheds, a storehouse and saddle-room, and a black- 
smith’s shop. Below the house an oblong bit of 
fenced ground showed a riot of color — Genevieve’s 
flower garden. Below that was a vegetable garden. 
There was a large corral for the cattle, and a smaller 


SIX STAR RANCH 


85 


one, high and circular, for the horses. There were 
three or four green trees near the house — tall, thin 
cottonwoods that had grown up along the slender 
streams of waste water from the windmill. 


86 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER VII 

THE RANCH HOUSE 

‘‘ And here we are at the Six Star Ranch/’ cried 
Mr. Hartley, as he leaped from the carriage before 
the wide-open door of the ranch house. “ Well, 
Mammy Lindy,” he added, as the kindly, wrinkled 
old face of a colored woman appeared in the door- 
way, “ Pve corralled the whole bunch and brought 
them West with me! ” 

A little stiffly the girls got down from their seats 
— all but Genevieve. She, in the space of a breath, 
seemingly, had leaped to the ground and run up on 
to the wide gallery where the negress, with adoring 
eyes, awaited her. 

“ Laws, chil’e,” Tilly, who was nearest, heard a 
tenderly crooning voice say, but I am jes’ pow’ful 
glad to see ye, honey ! ” 

“ Mammy, you old darling ! ” cried Genevieve, 
giving the rotund, gayly-clad figure a bear-like hug. 
“ You look just as good as you used to — and my, 
my! just see all this new finery to welcome me,” she 
added, holding off her beaming-faced old nurse at 
arms’ length. ‘‘ I reckon you’ll think something has 
come, Mammy Lindy, when we all get settled,” she 


SIX STAR RANCH 


87 


added laughingly, as she turned to present the old 
woman to Mrs. Kennedy and the girls. 

A little later, Tilly, in the wide, center hallway, 
was looking wonderingly about her. 

Well, Genevieve Hartley, I didn’t think you 
could have room enough for us all,” she de- 
clared ; but I’ll give it up. I should think you 
might entertain the whole state of Texas in this 
house ! ” 

‘‘We try to, sometimes,” laughed Genevieve. 
“ You know we Texans pride ourselves on always 
having room for everybody.” 

“ Well, I should think you did — and, only think, 
all on one floor, too ! ” 

Genevieve did not answer. She was looking 
around her with a thoughtful little frown between 
her eyebrows as if she saw something she did not 
quite understand. 

The girls were standing in the wide center hall- 
way that ran straight through the house. On one 
side, through a wide archway, could be seen a large 
living-room with piano, bookshelves, comfortable 
chairs, a couch, and a good-sized table. Beyond 
that there was a narrow hall with two large rooms 
leading from it. From the other side of the center 
hall opened another narrow hall at right angles, 
from which led the six remaining rooms of the 
house. 

“ This is more fun than getting settled in the 


88 


SIX STAR RANCH 


sleepers/' declared Elsie Martin, as Genevieve be- 
gan to fly about arranging her guests. 

The boys made quick work of bringing in the 
trunks and bags; and then for a brief half-hour 
there was quiet while eight pairs of hurried hands 
attempted to remove part of the dust of travel and 
to unearth fresh blouses and clean linen from long- 
packed trunks. 

It was a hungry, merry crowd, a little later, that 
trooped through the long covered way leading to 
the dining-room. 

Now I know why this house has got so much 
room in it,” declared Tilly. “We could have room 
in the East if we banished our dining-rooms 
and kitchens and pantries to the neighbors like 
this ! ” 

Genevieve did not answer. They had reached 
the long narrow room with the big table running 
lengthwise of it. Only one end of the table was set 
with places for eight. 

“Why, where are the boys?” questioned Gene- 
vieve. 

Mammy Lindy shook her head. 

“ Dey ain’t here, chil’e.” 

“ But, Mammy, you are mistaken. They are 
here. They came home with us.” 

“ Yas’m, dey done come home, sure ’nuf, but dey 
ain’t eatin’ now, honey.” 

“ Why not?” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


89 


Again the old woman shook her head. She did 
not answer. She turned troubled eyes first on the 
two young Mexican maids by the doorway, then on 
Mr. Hartley. 

Father, do you know what this means ? ” de- 
manded Genevieve. 

‘‘ No, dearie, I must say I don’t,” frowned Mr. 
Hartley. 

Then I shall find out,” avowed the mistress of 
the Six Star Ranch. Mammy Lindy, please seat 
my guests, and have the supper served right away. 
I’ll find Mr. Tim.” 

But, my dear,” remonstrated Mrs. Kennedy, 
gently, wouldn’t it be better if you ate your own 
supper first — with your guests ? ” 

Genevieve shook her head. Her face flushed 
painfully. 

“ I know. Aunt Julia, of course, what you mean. 
You don’t think it’s civil in me to run off like this. 
But it’s the boys — something is the matter. They 
always eat with us. Why, they may be thinking we 
don’t want them. Aunt Julia. Please, please excuse 
me, everybody,” she entreated, as she ran from the 
room. 

Halfway to the bunk house Genevieve met the 
ranch foreman. 

‘‘ Why, Mr. Tim, supper is ready. Didn’t you 
know ? ” she called, hurrying toward him. Where 
are the boys ? ” 


90 


SIX STAR RANCH 


An odd expression crossed the man’s kindly, 
weather-beaten face. 

Oh, they’re ’round — in spots.” 

Why don’t they come to supper ? ” 

Mr. Tim’s eyebrows went up. 

Well, as near as I can make out, that’s part of 
the welcome they’re giving you.” 

“ Welcome ! — to stay away from supper ! ” 

Mr. Tim laughed. 

“ I reckon maybe I’ll have to explain,” he replied. 
“ Long John told me they’d got it all fixed up that, 
after your fine doings back East, you wouldn’t take 
to things on the ranch very well. So for two days 
the whole bunch has been slicking things up, in- 
cluding themselves. They hunted up every stiff 
hat and b’iled shirt in this part of Texas, I reckon, 
for that splurge at Bolo; and Mammy Lindy says 
they’ve been pestering the life out of her, slicking 
up the house.” 

Genevieve drew in her breath with a little cry. 

“ There ! That’s what was the matter with the 
rooms,” she ejaculated. Nothing looked natural 
— but some things weren’t exactly ‘ slicked up,’ Mr. 
Tim. I couldn’t turn around without finding a book 
at my elbow. There’s scarcely one left on the 
shelves ! ” 

Maybe I can explain that,” returned the man, 
with a twinkle in his eyes. “ Reddy said the East 
was mighty strong on books and culturing, so I 


SIX STAR RANCH 


91 


s’pose he thought he’d have ’em ’round handy. It’s 
lucky your father had all them books come out while 
you was studying, or else I reckon the boys would 
have hit the trail for the nearest book-store and 
roped every book in sight.” 

Genevieve laughed appreciatively. 

But, the supper? ” she frowned again. 

Oh, that’s part of the outfit — and Reddy said 
it was ^ dinner,’ too. He said that he was raised 
back East, and that he knew ; and that ’twas 
more seemly that you ate it without their com- 
pany.” 

“ Humph ! Well, it isn’t, and I sha’n’t,” settled 
Genevieve, emphatically. “ Where is Reddy ? Go 
in to supper,” she laughed, and I’ll round up the 
boys — I mean. I’ll find them,” she corrected de- 
murely. Miss Jane doesn’t like me to say ‘ round 
up,’ Mr. Tim.” 

Mr. Tim smiled, but his eyes grew tender — al- 
most anxious. 

“ I reckon they haven’t spoiled you back East, 
after all, little girl. You’re the same true blue, like 
you was, before.” 

Genevieve laughed and colored a little. 

Of course I am,” she declared. “ Now I’m 
going for the boys.” 

Mr. Tim laid a detaining hand on her arm. 

Not to-night; it’s late, and it would make no 
end of fuss all around. But I’ll tell them. They’ll 


> 


92 


SIX STAR RANCH 


be on hand for breakfast, all right. Now go back 
to your own supper, yourself.’’ 

“ All right,” agreed Genevieve, reluctantly. 
“ But — to-morrow, remember ! ” 

“ I ain’t forgetting — to-morrow,” nodded the 
man. 

In the dining-room Genevieve was greeted with a 
merry clamor, under cover of which she said hur- 
riedly to her father: 

It’s all right. They’ll come to-morrow.” 

** I guess you won’t find we’ve left you much to 
eat,” gurgled Elsie Martin, her mouth full of fried 
chicken. 

Oh, yes, I shall — in Texas,” retorted Gene- 
vieve. 

‘‘ But I’m so ashamed,” apologized Cordelia. I 
don’t think we ought to eat so much.” 

** I do,” disagreed Tilly, when ever)dhing is so 
perfectly lovely as this is. They are just the nicest 
things ! And just guess how many hot biscuits I’ve 
eaten with this delicious plum sauce! Mr. Hartley 
says they’re wild — the plums, I mean, not the bis- 
cuits.” 

** And it’s all such a surprise, too,” interposed 
Alma Lane ; milk, and butter, and all.” 

Genevieve stared frankly. 

‘‘ Surprise ! — milk and butter! ” she exclaimed. 
‘‘ Didn’t you suppose we had milk and butter? ” 

Alma blushed. 


SIX STAR RANCH 93 


“ Why, Genevieve, I — I didn’t mean anything, 
you know, truly I didn’t,” she stammered. “ It’s 
only that — that ranches don’t usually have them, 
you know.” 

“ Don’t usually have them ! ” frowned Gene- 
vieve. “ Alma Lane, what are you talking 
about ? ” 

“ Why, we read it, you know, in a book,” ex- 
plained Cordelia, hastily, coming to the rescue. 

They said in spite of there being so many cows 
all around everywhere, there wasn’t any butter or 
milk, and that the cowboys wouldn’t like to be asked 
to milk, you know.” 

“You read it? Where?” Genevieve’s forehead 
still wore its frown. 

Mr. Hartley gave a chuckling laugh. 

“ I reckon Genevieve doesn’t know much about 
such ranches,” he observed. “ As I was telling you. 
Miss Cordelia, coming out this afternoon, there’s 
just as much difference in ranches as there is in 
folks; and ours happens to be the kind where we 
like all the comforts of home pretty well. To be 
sure, I wouldn’t just like to ask Reddy or Long 
John to milk, maybe,” he added, with a whimsical 
smile ; “ but I don’t have to, you see. I’ve got 
Carlos for just such work. He looks after the 
vegetable garden, too, and Genevieve’s flowers. By 
the way, dearie,” — he turned to his daughter — 

“ Tim says Carlos has been putting in his prettiest 


94 SIX STAR RANCH 


work on your garden this summer. Be sure you 
don’t forget to notice it.” 

As if I could help noticing it,” returned Gene- 
vieve. She was about to say more when there came 
an earnest question from Cordelia. 

Mr. Hartley, please, what did you call those 
two men ? ” 

“ What men?” 

“ The ones you — you wouldn’t wish to ask to 
milk.” 

Oh, the boys ? I don’t remember — I reckon 
’twas Reddy and Long John that I mentioned, 
maybe.” 

“Yes, sir; that’s the one I mean — the John 
one. What is his other name, please ? ” 

“ His surname ? Why, really. Miss Cordelia, I 
reckon I’ve forgotten what it is. The boys all go 
by their first names, mostly, else by a nickname. 
Why ? Found a long-lost friend ? ” 

“ Oh, no, sir. Well, I mean — that is — he may 
be lost, but he isn’t mine,” stammered Cordelia, who 
was always very literal. 

“ Then don’t blush so, Cordy,” bantered Tilly, 
wickedly, “ else we shall think he is yours.” 

Cordelia blushed a still deeper pink, but she said 
nothing; and in the confusion of leaving the dining- 
room she managed to place herself as far from Tilly 
as possible. On the back gallery she saw the ranch 
foreman. As the others went chattering through 


SIX STAB RANCH 


95 


the hall to the gallery beyond, she lingered 
timidly. 

Mr. Nolan, would — would you please tell me 
Mr. — Mr. John’s other name? ” 

John? Oh, you mean ‘ Long John,’ Miss? ” 

“Yes; but — 'John ’what?” 

Tim Nolan frowned. 

“ Why, let me see,” — he bit his lip in thought — 

Pierce ’ — no, ‘ Proctor.’ Yes, that’s it — ' John 
Proctor.’ ” 

A look of mingled disappointment and relief 
crossed Cordelia’s face. 

“ Thank you, Mr. Nolan, very much,” she fal- 
tered, as she hurried after her companions. 

“ I don’t know whether I’m glad or sorry,” she 
was thinking. “ Of course ’twould have been nice 
if he’d been John Sanborn, only I’m afraid Hermit 
Joe wouldn’t like a cowboy for a son, specially as 
there wouldn’t be anything for him to do in Sun- 
bridge at his trade.” 

Mrs. Kennedy announced soon after supper that 
she should take matters in hand very sternly that 
night and insist upon an early bedtime hour. 

“ It has been a long, hot, fatiguing day,” she 
said, “ but you are all so excited you’d sit up half the 
night asking questions and telling stories; so I 
shall take advantage of my position as chaperon, 
and send you to bed very soon.” 

“ O dear ! ” sighed Tilly. “If only it would come 


96 


SIX STAR RANCH 


morning quick! Just think, weVe got to wait a 
whole night before we can do any of the things 
we^re dying to do I 

“Never mind; there are lots of days coming,” 
laughed Mr. Hartley. “ What a fine family of 
young folks I have, to be sure,” he gloried, looking 
around him contentedly. 

They were all about him on the front gallery, in 
hammocks and chairs, or sitting on the steps; and 
a very attractive group they made, indeed. 

“ I think it would help the waiting if Genevieve 
would go in and sing to us,” suggested Bertha, after 
a moment’s silence. “ It will be so heavenly to sit 
out here and listen to it I ” 

“ Oh, sing that lovely Mexican ‘ Swallow Song,’ ” 
coaxed Elsie. “ La Gol — ■' — Go/-something, any- 
how.” 

“ Don’t swear, Elsie,” reproved Tilly, with be- 
coming dignity. 

'''La Golondrina'f laughed Genevieve. 

“ Yes, it’s a dear,” sighed Elsie. 

“ I’d rather have that Creole Love Song that you 
say Mammy Lindy taught you,” breathed Cordelia. 
“ That would be perfect for such a scene as this.” 

“ Pooh I I’d rather have one of those tinkly little 
tunes where you can hear the banjos and the tam- 
bourines,” averred Tilly. 

“ Indeed I At this rate I don’t see how I’m going 
to sing at all,” laughed Genevieve, “ with so many 


SIX STAR RANCH 


97 


conflicting wishes. Anything different anybody 
wants ? ’’ 

Ye^/’ declared Mr. Hartley, promptly. ‘‘ I 
want them all.” 

‘‘ Of course! ” cried half a dozen voices. 

‘‘All right!” rejoined Genevieve, laughingly, 
springing to her feet. 

And so while everybody watched the stars in the 
far-reaching sky, Genevieve, in the living room, 
played and sang till the back gallery and the long 
covered way at the rear of the house were full of 
the moving shadows of soft-stepping Mexican serv- 
ants and cowboys. And everywhere there was the 
hush of perfect content while from the living room 
there floated out the clear, sweet tones, the weird, 
dreamy melodies, and the tinkle of the tambourines. 

One by one, an hour later, the lighted windows 
in the long, low ranch house became dark. The last 
to change was the one behind which sat Cordelia 
Wilson in the room she shared with Tilly. 

“ Cordelia, why don’t you put out that light and 
go to bed?” demanded Tilly at last, drowsily. 
“ Morning will never come at this rate ! ” 

“ Yes, Tilly, Fm going to bed in just a minute,” 
promised Cordelia, as carefully she wrote in the 
space opposite Mrs. Miller’s name on her list of 
“ things to do ” : 

“ Cowboys are good, kind gentlemen ; but they 
are noisy, and some rough-looking.” 


98 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Five minutes later, Cordelia, from her little 
bed on one side of the room called a soft 
‘‘ good night ” across to Tilly. But Tilly was al- 
ready asleep. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


99 


CHAPTER VIII 

THE MISTRESS OF THE SIX STAR RANCH 

Breakfast was an early matter at the Six Star 
Ranch. It came almost with the sunrise, in fact. 
Genevieve had assured her guests, on the night of 
their arrival, however, that their breakfast might 
be hours later — that it might, indeed, be at any 
hour they pleased. But on this first morning at the 
ranch, there was not one guest that did not promptly 
respond to the breakfast-bell except Mrs. Kennedy. 
The stir of life out of doors had proved an effectual 
rising-bell for all ; and it was anything but a sleepy- 
looking crowd of young people that tripped into the 
dining-room to find the boys already waiting for 
them — a little quiet and shy, to be sure, but very 
red and shiny-looking as to face and hands, speak- 
ing loudly of a vigorous use of soap and water. 

Before the meal was half over, Mrs. Kennedy 
came in, only to meet a chorus of remonstrances 
that she should have disturbed herself so early. 

Genevieve, however, assumed a look of mock 
severity. 

Aunt Julia,’’ she began reprovingly in so per- 
fect an imitation of Miss Jane Chick’s severest 


100 


SIX STAR RANCH 


manner that Mrs. Kennedy’s lips twitched ; “ didn’t 
you hear the rising-bell, my dear ? How often must 
I ask you not to be late to your meals ? ” 

For one brief moment there was a dazed hush 
about the table; then, at sight of Cordelia’s hor- 
rified face, Genevieve lost her self-control and gig- 
gled. 

“ Oh, but that was such a good chance,” she 
chuckled. ‘‘ Please, Aunt Julia, I just couldn’t help 
it. I had to!” 

“ I don’t doubt it,” smiled back Mrs. Kennedy; 
and at the meaning emphasis in her voice there was 
a general laugh. 

‘‘ Well, what shall we do first? ” demanded Tilly, 
when breakfast was over. 

Genevieve put her finger to her lips. 

“ I wonder, now. Oh, I know f Let’s go out 
and see if they’ve driven in the saddle band yet; 
then we’ll watch the boys rope them and start to 
work.” 

‘‘ What’s a saddle band ? — sounds like a girth,” 
frowned Tilly. 

“ Humph ! I reckon it isn’t one, all the same,” 
laughed Genevieve. It’s the horses the boys ride. 
Each one has his own string, you know.” 

“No, I don’t know,” retorted Tilly, aggrievedly. 
“ And you needn’t use all those funny words — 
* string ’ and ‘ saddle band ’ and ‘ rope them ’ — 
without explaining them, either, Genevieve Hartley. 


SIX STAR RANCH lOl 


You’ve been talking like that ever since wt came. 
Just as if we knew what all that meant! ” 
Genevieve laughed again. 

‘‘ No, you don’t, of course,” she admitted, “ any 
more than I understood some of your terms back 
East. But come; let’s go out and watch the boys. 
One of the sheds has a lovely low, flat roof, and we 
can see right over into the horse corral from there. 
It’s easy ; there’s a ladder. Come on ! ” 

‘‘ Why, what a lot of horses I ” cried Tilly, a mo- 
ment later, as they stepped out of doors. ‘‘ Do they 
ride all those ? ” 

“ Not this morning,” laughed Genevieve. ‘‘ You 
see, each man has his own string of horses, and he 
picks out some one of the bunch, and lets the rest 
go. That’s Reddy, now, driving them into the cor- 
ral. The other boys will be here pretty quick now, 
and the fun will begin. You’ll see! ” 

The horse corral was high and circular, and there 
was a fine view of it from the shed roof. A snub- 
bing post was in the middle of the corral, and a 
wing was built out at one side from the entrance 
gate, so that the horses could be driven in more 
easily ; yet Reddy quite had his hands full as it was. 
At last they were all in, and a merry time they were 
having of it, racing in a circle about the enclosure, 
heads up, and tails and manes flying. 

Regular merry-go-round, isn’t it ? ” giggled 
Tilly. But Cordelia clutched Genevieve’s arm. 


102 


SIX STAR RANCH 


'' Genevieve, look — they’ve got ropes ! Gene- 
vieve, what are they going to do?” she gasped, 
her eyes on the boys who were running from 
all directions now, toward the corral. Why, 
Genevieve, they’re going in there, with all those 
horses ! ” 

I reckon they are,” rejoined the mistress of the 
Six Star Ranch. “ Now watch, and you’ll see. 
There ! — see there ? — in the middle by that post ! 
Each man will pick out one of his own horses and 
rope him; then he’ll lead him out and saddle him, 
and the deed’s done.” 

I guess that’s easier to say than to do,” ob- 
served Bertha, dryly. I notice there aren’t any 
of those horses just hanging ’round waiting to be 
caught ! ” 

No, there aren’t, to-day,” laughed Genevieve ; 
“ though some of the horses will do just that, at 
times — specially Long John’s. They’re pretty 
lively now, however, and it does take some skill to 
make a nice job of it when they’re jamming and 
jostling like that. But the boys are equal to it. 
We’ve got some splendid ropers ! ” This time there 
was a note of very evident pride in the voice of the 
mistress of the Six Star Ranch. 

It was a brief but exciting time that followed, 
filled, as it was, with the shouts of the boys — the 
jeers at some failure, the cheers at some success — 
the thud of the horses’ hoofs, the swirl of the skill- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


103 


fully flung ropes. It was almost as exciting when 
the boys, their horses once caught, led out, and sad- 
dled, rode off for their morning’s work. To Cor- 
delia, especially, it was an experience never to be 
forgotten. 

“Going to turn cowboy. Miss Cordelia?” asked 
Mr. Hartley, with a smile, as he met the girl com- 
ing into the house a little later. Mr. Hartley, in 
his broad-brimmed hat, and his gray tweed trousers 
tucked into his high boots, looked the picture of the 
prosperous ranchman at home. 

Cordelia showed a distinctly shocked face. 

“ Oh, no, sir ! ” she cried. 

“ Don’t think you could learn to swing the rope 
— eh ? ” he teased. 

“ Mercy, no ! ” 

A half-proud, wholly-gratified smile crossed the 
man’s face. 

“ It isn’t as easy as it looks to be,” he said. 
“ Once in a while we get a tenderfoot out here, 
though, who thinks he’s going to learn it all in a 
minute — or, rather, do it without any learning. 
But to be a good roper, one has to give it long, hard 
practice. The best of ’em begin young. Reddy, the 
crack roper in my outfit, tells me he began with his 
mother’s clothes-line at the age of four years, with 
his rocking-horse for a victim. It seems there was 
a picture in one of his books of a cowboy roping a 
pony, and — ” 


104 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Mr. Hartley stopped, as if listening. From the 
rear of the house had sounded the creak of the 
windmill crank. The man turned, entered the hall, 
and crossed to the window. Then he shook his 
head with a smile. 

‘‘ Fm afraid Genevieve is up to her old tricks,’^ 
he said. “ She’s stopping the windmill so she can 
climb to the top of the tower, I reckon.” 

‘‘Genevieve! — at the top of that tower!” ex- 
claimed Cordelia. 

Mr. Hartley’s lips twitched. 

“ Yes. That used to be a daily stunt of hers, and 
— I let her,” added the man, a little doggedly. “ It 
made her well and strong, anyhow, and helped to 
develop her muscle. You see, we — we don’t have 
gymnasiums on the ranch,” he concluded whim- 
sically, as they stepped together out on to the back 
gallery. 

A babel of gleeful shouts and laughter greeted 
their ears. A moment later Mr. Hartley and Cor- 
delia came in sight of the windmill. At its base 
four chattering, shrieking girls were laughing and 
clapping their hands. Above their heads, Gene- 
vieve, in a dark blue gymnasium suit, was swinging 
herself gracefully from cross-piece to cross-piece in 
the tower. 

“You see,” smiled Mr. Hartley; but he was in- 
terrupted by a shocked, frightened voice behind 
him. 


SIX STAR RANCH 105 


Genevieve, my dear ! ’’ gasped Mrs. Kennedy, 
hurrying forward. 

Genevieve did not hear, apparently. To the girls 
she waved a free hand, joyously. She was almost 
at the top. 

‘‘ It’s fine — mighty fine up here,” she caroled. 
‘‘ I can see ’way, ’way over the prairie ! ” 

‘‘ Genevieve ! Genevieve Hartley, come down this 
instant,” commanded Mrs. Kennedy. Then her 
voice shook, and grew piteously frightened, as she 
stammered: No, no — don’t come down, dear! 

Genevieve, how can you come down? ” Mrs. Ken- 
nedy was wringing her hands now. 

This time Genevieve heard. 

‘‘ Why, Aunt Julia, what is it? What is the mat- 
ter? ” The girl’s voice expressed only concerned 
surprise. 

“What is the matter?” echoed Mrs. Ken- 
nedy, faintly. “ Genevieve, how can you come 
down ? ” 

“ Come down ? Why, that’s easy 1 But I don’t 
want to come down.” 

Mrs. Kennedy’s lips grew stern. 

“ Genevieve,” she said, with an obvious effort to 
speak quietly; “ if you can come down, I desire you 
to do so at once.” 

Genevieve came down. Her eyes flashed a little, 
and her cheeks were redder than usual. She did not 
once glance toward the girls, clustered in a silent, 


106 


SIX STAR RANCH 


frightened little group. She did not appear to no- 
tice even her father, standing by. She went straight 
to Mrs. Kennedy. 

Fve come down, Aunt Julia.’^ 

Mrs. Kennedy had been seriously disturbed, and 
genuinely frightened. To her, Genevieve’s climb 
to the top of the windmill tower was very danger- 
ous, as well as very unladylike. Yet it ^was the 
fright, even more than the displeasure that made 
her voice sound so cold now in her effort to steady 
it. 

“ Thank you, Genevieve. Please see that there 
is no occasion for you to come down again,” she said 
meaningly. Then she turned and went into the 
house. 

Just how it happened, Genevieve did not know, 
but almost at once she found herself alone with her 
father on the back gallery. The girls had disap- 
peared. 

Genevieve was very angry now. 

“ Father, it wasn’t fair, to speak like that,” she 
choked, “ before the girls and you, when I hadn’t 
done a thing — not a thing ! Why, it — it was just 
like Miss Jane! I never knew Aunt Julia to be like 
that.” 

For a moment her father was silent. His face 
wore a thoughtful frown. 

I know it, dearie,” he said at last. But I don’t 
think Mrs. Kennedy quite realized, quite under- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


107 


stood — how you'd feel. She didn’t think it just 
right for you to be there.” 

“ But I was in my gym suit, Father. I skipped in 
and put it on purposely, while the others were doing 
something else; then I climbed the tower. Fd 
planned Vay ahead how Fd surprise them.” 

The man hesitated. 

“I know, dearie,” he nodded, after a moment; 

but I reckon it was just a little too much of a 
surprise for Mrs. Kennedy. You know she isn’t 
used to the West; and — do Boston young ladies 
climb windmill towers?” 

In spite of her anger, Genevieve laughed. The 
mention of Boston had put her in mind of some 
Boston friends of Mrs. Kennedy’s, whom she knew. 
She had a sudden vision of what Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas Butterfield’s faces would have been, had 
their stern, sixty-year-old eyes seen what Mrs. 
Kennedy saw. 

I reckon, too,” went on Mr. Hartley, with a 
sigh, that I have sort of spoiled you, letting you 
have your own way. And maybe Mammy Lindy 
and I, in our anxiety th,at you should be well and 
strong, and sit the saddle like a Texas daughter 
should, haven’t taught you always just the dainty 
little lady ways — that you ought to have been 
taught.” 

‘‘You’ve taught me everything — everything 
good and lovely,” protested the girl, hotly. 


108 SIX STAR RANCH 


He shook his head. A far-away look came into 
his eyes. 

“ I haven’t, dearie — and that’s why I sent you 
East.” i 

Genevieve flushed. ; 

“ But I didn’t want to go East, in the first place,” i 
she stormed. ‘‘ I wanted to stay here with you. 
Besides, Aunt Julia isn’t really any relation, — nor 
Miss Jane, either. They haven’t any right to — to 
speak to me like that.” 

A dull red stole to John Hartley’s cheek. 

Tut, tut, dearie,” he demurred, with a shake 
of the head. “ You mustn’t forget how good they’ve 
been to you. Besides — they have got the right. I 
gave it to them. I told them to make you like 
themselves.” 

There was a long silence. Genevieve’s eyes were 
moodily fixed on the floor. Her father gave her a 
swift glance, then went on, softly : 

I suspect, too, maybe we’re both forgetting, 
dearie. After all, Mrs. Kennedy did it every bit 
through — love. She was frightened. She was so 
scared she just shook, dearie.” 

She — was ? ” Genevieve’s voice was amazed. 

‘‘ Yes. I reckon that’s more than half why she 
spoke so stern, and why she’s in her room crying 
this minute — as I’ll warrant she is. I saw her eyes, 
and I saw how her hands shook. And I saw it was 
all she could do to keep from falling right on your 


SIX STAR RANCH 


109 


neck — because she had you back safe and sound. 
Maybe you didn’t see that, dearie.” 

There was no answer. 

You see, their ways back East, and ours, aren’t 
alike,” resumed the man, after a time; “ but I reckon 
their — love is.” 

Genevieve drew a long breath. Her brown eyes 
were not clear. 

‘‘ I reckon maybe I’ll go and find — Aunt Julia,” 
she said in a low voice. 

The next moment her father sat alone on the back 
gallery. 


110 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER IX 

REDDY AND THE BRONCHO 

There was no lack of interesting things to do 
that first day at the ranch. There was one .half- 
hour, to be sure, when five of the Happy Hexagons 
sat a little quietly on the front gallery and tried to 
talk as if there were no such thing as a windmill, 
and no such person as a girl who could climb to the 
top of it; but after Genevieve and Mrs. Kennedy, 
arm in arm, came through the front door — with 
eyes, indeed, a little misty, but with lips cheerfully 
smiling — every vestige of constraint fled. Gene- 
vieve, once more in her pretty linen frock, was again 
the alert little hostess, and very soon they were all 
off to inspect the flower garden, the vegetable gar- 
den, the cow corral, the sheds, the stables, and the 
blacksmith’s shop, not forgetting Teresa, the cook, 
who was making tamales in the kitchen for them, 
nor Pepito, Genevieve’s own horse that she rode 
before she went East. 

And we’ll have the boys pick out some horses 
for you, too,” cried Genevieve, smoothing Pepito’s 
sleek coat in response to his welcoming whinny of 


SIX STAR RANCH 


111 


delight. “ Tm sure they can find something all 
right for us.” 

Tilly’s eyes brightened, so, too, did Bertha’s; 
but Cordelia spoke hastily, her eyes bent a bit dis- 
trustfully on the spirited little horse Genevieve was 
petting. 

Oh, but I don’t believe they’ll have time to hunt 
up horses for us, Genevieve. Really, I don’t think 
we ought to ask them to.” 

‘‘ Maybe we won’t, then — for you'' teased Tilly, 
saucily. We’ll just let them take time for ours.” 

It is a question, however, if that afternoon, even 
Tilly wanted to ride; for, according to Cordelia’s 
notes that night in ‘‘ Things to do,” they saw a 
broncho bursted.” 

It was Mr. Tim who had said at the dinner table 
that noon: 

‘‘If you young people happen to be on hand, say 
at about four o’clock, you’ll see something doing. 
Reddy’s got a horse or two he’s going to put 
through their paces — and one of ’em’s never been 
saddled.” 

Privately, to Mr. Hartley, Mrs. Kennedy ob- 
jected a little. 

. “ Are you sure, Mr. Hartley, the girls ought to 
witness such a sight?” she asked uneasily. -“Of 
course I don’t want to be too strict in my demands,” 
she went on with a little twinkle in her eyes that 
Mr. Hartley thoroughly understood. “ I realize the 


m 


SIX STAR RANCH 


West isn’t the East. But, will this be — all 
right ? ” 

I think it will — even in your judgment,” he 
assured her. “ It’s no professional broncho-buster 
that they’ll see to-day. I seldom hire them, any- 
way, as I prefer to have our own men break in the 
horses — specially as we’re lucky enough to have 
three or four mighty skillful ones right in our own 
outfit. There’ll be nothing brutal or rough to-day, 
Mrs. Kennedy. Only one beast is entirely wild, and 
he’s not really vicious, Reddy says. Genevieve tells 
me the girls have heard a lot about broncho-busting, 
and that they’re wild to see it. They wouldn’t think 
they’d been to Texas, I’m afraid, if they didn’t see 
something of the sort.” 

Very well,” agreed Mrs. Kennedy, with visible 
reluctance. 

Oh, of course,” went on Mr. Hartley, his eyes 
twinkling, “ you mustn’t expect that they’ll see ex- 
actly a pony parade drawing baby carriages down 
Beacon Street; but they will see some of the best 
horsemanship that the state of Texas can show. I 
take it you never saw a little beast whose chief aim 
in life was to get clear of his rider — eh, Mrs. Ken- 
nedy ? ” 

‘‘ No, I never did,” shuddered the lady; ‘‘ and I’m 
not sure that I’d want to,” she finished decisively, 
as she turned away. 

The new horse proved to be a fiery little bay 



“ REDDY WAS RIGHT THERE EXTRY TIME ” 

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SIX STAR RANCH 


113 


mustang, and the fight began from the first moment 
that the noose settled about his untamed little neck. 
As Tilly told of the affair in the Chronicles of the 
Hexagon Club, it was like this: 

‘‘We saw a broncho busted this afternoon. 
Reddy busted it, and he was splendid. Mercy! I 
shall never think anything my old Beauty does is 
bad again. Beauty is a snail and a saint beside this 
jumping, plunging, squealing creature that never by 
any chance was on his feet properly — except when 
he came down hard on all four of them at once with 
his back humped right up in the middle in a per- 
fectly frightful fashion — and I suppose that wasn’t 
‘ properly.’ Anyhow, I shouldn’t have thought it 
was, if I had had to try to sit on that hump ! 

“ But that wasn’t the only thing that he did. 
Dear me, no I He danced, and rolled, and seesawed 
up and down — ‘ pitching,’ Mr. Hartley called it. 
And I’m sure it looked like it. First he’d try stand- 
ing on his two fore feet, then he’d give them a rest, 
and take the other two. And sometimes he couldn’t 
seem to make up his mind which he wanted to use, 
or which way he wanted to turn, and he’d change 
about right up in the air so he’d come down facing 
the other way. My, he was the most uncertain 
creature I 

“ It didn’t seem to make a mite of difference 
where the horse was, or what he did with his feet, 
though. Reddy was right there every time, and all 


114 SIX STAR RANCH 


ready, too. (Yes, I know a pun is the lowest order 
of wit. But I don’t care. I couldn’t help it, any- 
way — it was such a ready one!) There he sat, so 
loose and easy, too, with his quirt (that’s a whip), 
and it looked sometimes just as if he wasn’t half 
trying — that he didn’t need to. But I’m sure he 
was trying. Anyhow, I know I couldn’t have Itayed 
on that horse five minutes ; and I don’t believe even 
Genevieve could. (I said that to Mr. Tim Nolan, 
and he laughed so hard I thought I’d put it in here, 
and let somebody else laugh.) 

Of course every one of us was awfully excited, 
and the boys kept shouting and cheering, and yell- 
ing * Stay with him I ’ and telling him not to ‘ go to 
leather ’ — whatever that may mean ! And Reddy 
did stay. He stayed till the little horse got tired 
out; then he got off, and led the horse away, and 
some of the other boys went through a good deal 
the same sort of thing with other horses, only these 
had all been partly broken before, they told us. But, 
mercy, they were bad enough, anyhow, I thought, 
to have been brand-new. Reddy did another one, 
too, and this time he put silver half-dollars under 
his feet in the stirrups. And when the little beast 
— the horse, I mean, not Reddy — got through his 
antics, there the half-dollars were, still there in the 
same old place. How the boys did yell and cheer 
then! 

“ After that, they all just ‘ showed off ’ for us. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


115 


throwing their ropes over anything and everything, 
and playing like a crowd of little boys on a picnic, 
only Mr. Hartley said they were doing some 
‘ mighty fine roping ’ with it all. Their ropes are 
mostly about forty feet long, and it looked as if they 
just slung them any old way ; but I know they don’t, 
for afterward, just before we went in to supper, 
Reddy let me take his rope, and I tried to throw 
it. I aimed for a post a little way ahead of me, 
but I got Pedro, the Mexican cowboy, behind 
me, right ‘ in the neck,’ as Mr. Tim said. Pedro 
grinned, and of course everybody else laughed 
horribly. 

“ And thus endeth the account of how the 
bronchos were busted. (P. S. I hope whoever 
reads the above will own up that for once Tilly 
Mack got some sense into her part. So there!) I 
forgot to say we took a nap after dinner. Every- 
body does here. ‘ Siestas ’ they call them, Gene- 
vieve says.” 

It was after supper that Genevieve said : 

‘‘ Now let’s go out on to the front gallery and 
watch the sunset. Supper was too late last night 
for us to see much of it, but to-night it will be fine 
— and you’ve no idea what a sunset really can be 
until you’ve seen it on the prairie ! ” 

Tilly pursed her lips. 

“There, Genevieve Hartley, there's another of 


116 


SIX STAR RANCH 


those mysterious words of yours; and it isn’t the 
first time I’ve heard it here, either.” 

What word ? ” 

‘‘ ‘ Gallery.’ What is a gallery? I’m sure I don’t 
see what there can be about a one-story house to be 
called a ‘ gallery ’ ! ” 

Genevieve laughed. 

“ You call them ' verandas ’ or ‘ piazzas,’ back 
East, Tilly. We call them ' galleries ’ in Texas.” 

“Oh, is that it?” frowned Tilly. “But you 
never called Sunbridge piazzas that.” 

Genevieve shook her head. 

“No; it’s only when I get back here that the 
old names come back to me so naturally. Besides 
— when I was East, I very soon found out what 
you called them; so I called them that, too.” 

“ Well, anyhow,” retorted Tilly, saucily, “ I’ve 
got my opinion of folks that will call a one-story 
piazza a ‘ gallery.’ I should just like to show them 
what we call a ‘ gallery ’ at home — say, the top 
one in the Boston Theater, you know, where it runs 
’way back.” 

Genevieve only laughed good-naturedly. 

On the front gallery all settled themselves com- 
fortably to watch the sunset. Already the sun was 
low in the west, a huge ball of fire just ready to 
drop into the sea of prairie grass. 

“ It doesn’t seem nearly so hot here as I thought 
it would,” observed Bertha, after a time. “ Oh, it’s 


SIX STAR RANCH 


117 


been warm to-day, of course — part of the time 
awfully warm,” she added hastily. But Tve been 
just as hot in New Hampshire.” 

“We think we’ve got a mighty fine climate,” 
spoke up Mr. Hartley. “ Now, last year, you in the 
East, had heaps of prostrations from the heat. 
Texas had just three.” 

“ I suppose that was owing to the Northers,” 
murmured Cordelia, interestedly. “Now, feel it!” 
She put up her hand. “ There’s a breeze, now. Is 
that a Norther? ” 

Mr. Hartley coughed suddenly. Genevieve 
stared. 

“ What do you know about Northers? ” she de- 
manded. 

“ Why, I — I read about them. It said you — 
you had them.” 

Genevieve broke into a merry laugh. 

“ I should think, by the way you put it, that they 
were the measles or the whooping cough! We do 
have them, Cordelia — in the winter, specially, but 
not so often in July. Besides, they don’t feel much 
like this little breeze — as you’d soon find out, if 
you happened to be in one.” 

For a moment there was silence; then Genevieve 
spoke again. 

“ See here, where’d you find out all these things 
about Texas — that we didn’t have butter, and did 
have Northers? ” 


118 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Before Cordelia could answer, Tilly interposed 
with a chuckling laugh : 

“ I’ll tell you, Genevieve, just where they found 
out,” she cut in, utterly ignoring her own share of 
the “they.” “Now, listen! How do you suppose 
they spent all the time you were in New Jersey? 
I’ll tell you. They were digging up Texas every 
single minute; and they dug, and dug, and dug, 
until there wasn’t a mean annual temperature, or a 
mean anything else that they didn’t drag from its 
hiding-place and hold up triumphantly, and shout: 
‘Behold, this is Texas!’” 

“ Girls — you didn’t ! ” cried Genevieve, choking 
with laughter. 

“ They did! ” affirmed Tilly. 

“Yes, we did — including Tilly,” declared Cor- 
delia, with unexpected spirit. 

Everybody laughed this time, but it was Alma, 
the peacemaker, who spoke next. 

“ Oh, look — look at the sun ! ” she exclaimed. 
“ Aren’t those rose-pink clouds gorgeous ? ” 

“My, wouldn’t they make a lovely dress?” 
sighed Elsie. 

“ Yes, and see the golden pathway the sun has 
made, straight down to the prairie,” cried Bertha 
Brown. 

“ Oh, look, look, Mr. Hartley ! Is that grass on 
fire?” gasped Cordelia. 

Mr. Hartley shook his head. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


119 


No — I hope not/’ 

But you do have prairie fires ? ” 

Sometimes ; but not so often nowadays — 
though I’ve seen some bad ones, in my time.” 

There was a long silence. All eyes were turned 
toward the west. Above, a riot of rose and gold 
and purple flamed across the sky. Below, more 
softly, the colors seemed almost repeated in the 
waving, shifting, changing expanse of fairylike love- 
liness that the prairie had become. 

Oh, how beautiful it all is, and how I do love 
it,” breathed Genevieve, after a time, as if to her- 
self. 

Gradually the gorgeous rose and gold and purple 
changed, softened, and faded quite away. The 
slender crescent of the moon appeared, and one by 
one the stars showed in the darkening sky. 

It’s all so quiet, so wonderfully quiet,” sighed 
Cordelia ; then, abruptly, she cried : Why, what’s 
that?” 

There had sounded a far-away shout, then an- 
other, nearer. On the breeze was borne the muffled 
tread of hundreds of hoofs. A dog began to bark 
lustily. 

Later, they swept into view — a troop of cow- 
boys, and a thronging, jostling mass of cattle. 

On the way to a round-up, probably,” explained 
Mr. Hartley, as he rose to his feet and went 


120 


SIX STAR RANCH 


to meet the foreman, who was coming toward the 
house. 

Still later, he explained more fully. 

‘‘ They’ve put them in our pens for the night. 
The boys have gone into camp a mile or so away.” 

Genevieve shuddered. 

“ I hate round-ups,” she cried passionately. 

“What are round-ups?” asked Bertha Brown. 

“ Where they brand the cattle,” answered Gene- 
vieve, quickly, but in a low voice. 

Cordelia, who was near her, shuddered. She ^ 
seemed now to see before her eyes that seething 
mass of heads and horns, sweeping on and on un- 
ceasingly. * 

Cordelia had two dreams that night. She won- 
dered, afterward, which was the worse. She 
dreamed, first, that an endless stream of cattle ' 
climbed the windmill tower and jumped clear to the 
edge of the prairie, where the sun went down. She ' 
dreamed, secondly, that she was very hungry, and 
that twenty feet away stood a table laden with hot . 
biscuits and fried chicken; but that the only way j 
she could obtain any food was to “ rope it ” with 1 
Reddy’s lariat. At the time of waking up she had x 
not obtained so much as one biscuit or a chicken 1 
wing. j 


SIX STAR RANCH 


m 


CHAPTER X 

CORDELIA GOES TO CHURCH 

We’re going to have church to-morrow,” Gene- 
vieve had announced on the first Saturday night at 
the ranch. “ A minister is coming from Bolo, and 
he holds the service out of doors. Everybody on 
the place comes, and we sing, and it’s lovely ! ” 

As it happened, Cordelia had not been present 
when Genevieve made this announcement. It was 
left for Tilly, therefore, to tell her. 

‘‘ Oh, Cordelia, I forgot. We’re going to have 
church to-morrow,” she said that night, as she was 
brushing her hair in their room. 

Cordelia, who was taking off her shoes, looked 
up delightedly. 

Oh, Tilly — church ? We’re going to church ? ” 

Tilly laughed; then an odd little twist came to 
her mouth. 

‘‘Yes, Cordelia; we’re — going to church,” she 
answered. 

“ What time?” 

“ Eleven o’clock, Genevieve said.” 

“Oh, won’t that be fun — I mean. I’m very 


122 


SIX STAR RANCH 


glad,” corrected Cordelia, hastily, a confused red in 
her cheeks. 

In Cordelia’s bed that night, Cordelia thought 
happily : 

Maybe now I can get some new ideas for Uncle 
Thomas to put in his services. They do everything 
so differently here in the West, and Uncle’s audi- 
ences get so small sometimes, specially Sunday eve- 
nings.” 

In Tilly’s bed, Tilly, a little guilty as to con- 
science, was trying to excuse herself. 

‘‘ Well, anyhow,” she was arguing mentally, 

Genevieve said ‘ everybody comes,’ and if they 
‘ come ’ they must ‘ go ’ ; so of course we’re ‘ going ’ 
to church.” 

Not until Cordelia was dropping off to sleep did 
something occur to her. She sat up, then, suddenly. 

Tilly,” she called softly, “ where is that church? 
Do we have to ride eighteen miles to Bolo? ” 

Tilly did not answer. She was asleep, decided 
Cordelia — it was dark, and Cordelia could not see 
the pillow Tilly was stuffing into her mouth. 

Just after breakfast Sunday morning, Elsie Mar- 
tin said a low word in Genevieve’s ear, and drew 
her out of earshot of the others. Her eyes were 
anxious. 

Genevieve, do you have to dress up much for 
this kind of — of church?” she questioned. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


123 


''Not a bit, dear. Don’t worry. Anything you 
have will be lovely.” 

" I know ; but — well, you see, it’s just this,” she 
quavered. " Aunt Kate fixed up the girls’ green 
chambray for me just before we came. I saw then 
it didn’t look just right, but we were in such an 
awful hurry there wasn’t time to do anything; and 
I was so excited, anyway, that I didn’t seem to 
mind, much. But out here, in the bright light, it 
looks awfully! ” 

" Nonsense I That’s all your own notion, Elsie,” 
rejoined Genevieve, comfortingly. " I’m sure it 
looks lovely. Anyhow, it wouldn’t matter if it 
didn’t — here.” 

Elsie shook her head despondently. 

" But you don’t understand,” she said. " You 
know the twins dress alike, and this was their green 
chambray. Aunt Kate always likes to use their 
things, she says, because there’s always double quan- 
tity; but this time it didn’t work so well. You see, 
Cora was sick a lot last summer, when they had this 
dress, and she didn’t wear hers half so much as 
Clara did, so hers wasn’t faded hardly any. It was 
an awful funny color to begin with; but it’s worse 
now, with part of it one shade, and part another. 
You see, one sleeve’s made of Cora’s, and one of 
Clara’s; and the front breadth is Cora’s and the 
back is Clara’s. Of course Aunt Kate cut it out 
where she could do it best, and didn’t think but 


SIX STAR RANCH 


lU 

what they were alike; but you don’t know what a 
funny-looking thing that dress is ! I — I don’t 
know whether to turn Clara toward folks, or Cora,” 
she finished with a little laugh. 

Genevieve heard the laugh — but she saw that it 
came through trembling lips. 

‘‘ Well, I just wouldn’t fret,” she declared, with 
an afYectionate little hug. If you don’t want to 
wear it, wear something else. What a nuisance 
clothes are, anyhow ! I’ve always said I wished we 
didn’t have to change our dress every time we 
turned around ! ” 

Elsie’s eyes became wistful. She shook her head 
sadly. 

‘‘ You don’t know anything about it, Genevieve. 
Your clothes haven’t been a nuisance to you — even 
if you think they have. You see, you don’t realize 
how nice it is to have such a lot of pretty things — 
and all new,” she sighed as she turned away. 

When Genevieve went to her room to dress for 
‘‘ church ” that morning, she looked a little thought- 
fully at the array of pretty frocks hanging in her 
closet. 

I wish I could give some to Elsie,” she sighed ; 
“ but Elsie isn’t poor, of course, and I suppose 
she — she wouldn’t take them. But I suspect I don’t 
half appreciate them myself — just as Elsie said,” 
she finished, as she took down a fresh, white linen. 

At quarter before eleven Cordelia Wilson 


SIX STAR RANCH 


125 


knocked at Genevieve’s door. Genevieve opened it 
to find Cordelia in a neat jacket suit, hat on, and 
gloves in hand. 

‘‘ Am I all right, Genevieve ? ” she asked. “ I 
wasn’t quite sure just what to wear.” 

‘‘ Why, y-yes — only you don’t need the hat, nor 
the gloves, dear; and I shouldn’t think you’d want 
that coat, it’s so warm ! ” 

“ Not want a hat, or gloves,” burst out Cordelia, 
looking distinctly shocked. “ Why, Genevieve Hart- 
ley! I know you do very strange things here in 
the West, but I did suppose you — you dressed 
properly to go to church I ” 

“ But it isn’t really church, Cordelia,” smiled 
Genevieve. “ I only call it so, you know. And of 
course we don’t ‘ go ’ at all — only as far as the 
back gallery.” 

Cordelia stared, frowningly. 

‘‘You mean you don’t drive off — anywhere?” 
she demanded. “ That you have a service right 
here ? ” 

“ Yes. I thought you knew.” 

“ But Tilly said — why, I don’t know what she 
did say, exactly, but she let me think we were going 
to drive off somewhere. Andgiook at me — rigged 
out like this! You know how she’ll tease me!” 
There were almost tears in Cordelia’s sensitive eyes. 

“ Has she seen you — in this ? ” 

“No; but she will when I go back. I saw her 


126 


SIX STAR RANCH 


whisk through the hall to our room just as I crossed 
through to come in here” 

“ Then we won’t let her see you,” chuckled Gene- 
vieve. ‘‘ Here, let’s have your hat and gloves and 
coat. I’ll hide them in my closet. You can get 
them later when Tilly isn’t around. Now run back 
and put a serene face on it. Just don’t let her sus- 
pect you ever thought of your hat and gloves.” 

But, do you think I ought to do — that ? Won’t 
it be — deceit ? ” 

No, dear, it won’t,” declared Genevieve, em- 
phatically ; not any sort of deceit that’s any harm. 
It will just be depriving Miss Tilly of the naughty 
fun she expected to have with you. You know how 
Tilly loves to tease folks. Well, she’ll just find the 
tables turned, this time. Now run back quick, or 
she’ll suspect things ! ” And, a little doubtfully, 
Cordelia went. 

As she had expected, she found Tilly in their 
room. 

Why don’t you get ready for church, Cordy ?, ” 
demanded Tilly, promptly. 

“ I am ready. I dressed early, before you came 
in,” returned Cordelia, trying to speak very uncon- 
cernedly. ‘‘ Why? Don’t you think this will do? ” 
‘‘ Oh, yes, of course. You look very nice,” mur- 
mured Tilly, a little hastily, sending a furtive glance 
into Cordelia’s face. There was nothing, apparently, 
about Cordelia to indicate that anything unexpected 


SIX STAR RANCH 


127 


had occurred, or was about to occur; and she her- 
self could not, of course, ask why no preparations 
for an eighteen-mile journey were being made, spe- 
cially when she had pretended to be asleep the night 
before when Cordelia asked her question about that 
same journey. “ You look very nice. I’m sure,” 
murmured Tilly, again. And Cordelia, hearing the 
vague disappointment in Tilly’s voice, was filled 
with joy — that yet carried a pang of remorse. 

It was a little later, just as Tilly was leaving the 
room, that Cordelia turned abruptly. 

** Tilly, I did have on my hat and coat,” she burst 
out hurriedly. I did think we were going to drive 
’way off somewhere to church. But I found out and 
hid them in Genevieve’s room, so you would not 
know and — and tease me,” she finished breath- 
lessly. 

Tilly turned back with a laugh. 

You little rogue! ” she began; then she stopped 
short. Her face changed. “ But — why in the 
world did you tell me now ? ” she demanded curi- 
ously. 

I thought I ought to.” 

‘'Ought to! — ought to let me tease you!” 
echoed the dumfounded Tilly. 

Cordelia stirred restlessly. 

“ Not that, of course, exactly,” she stammered. 
“ It’s only that — that it seemed somehow like — 
deceiving you.” 


128 


SIX STAR RANCH 


For a moment Tilly stared; then, suddenly, she 
darted across the room and put both arms around 
the minister’s niece. Cordelia was not quite sure 
whether she was hugging her, or shaking her. 

“ Oh, you — you — I don’t know what you are ! 
Tilly was exclaiming. “ But you’re a dear, any- 
how ! ” And it was actually a sob that the as- 
tounded Cordelia heard as Tilly turned and fled 
from the room. 

To Sunbridge eyes, church ” that morning was 
something very new and novel. At eleven o’clock 
Genevieve and her father piloted their guests to the 
back gallery where seats had been reserved for 
them. The minister, a dark-haired, tired-looking 
man with kind eyes, had arrived some time before 
on horseback. To Mrs. Kennedy, especially, he 
looked a little too unconventional in his heavy boots 
and coarse garments which, though plainly recently 
brushed, still showed the dust of the prairie in spots. 
He sat now at one side talking with Mr. Tim while 
his congregation ” was gathering. 

And what a congregation it was ! As Genevieve 
had said, everybody on the ranch came, except those 
whose duties prohibited them from coming. Singly, 
or in picturesque groups, they settled themselves 
comfortably on the back gallery, or along the cov- 
ered way leading to the dining-room. Even Teresa, 
in a huge fresh apron that made her great bulk look 


SIX STAR RANCH 


129 


even greater, sat just outside the dining-room door, 
where she could easily run in from time to time, to 
see that the roast chickens in the oven were not 
burning, nor the beets on the stove boiling dry. 

The “ pulpit ” was a little stand placed at the 
house-end of the covered way. The '' choir ” was 
the piano in the living-room drawn up close to the 
window, with Genevieve herself seated at it. Nor 
was the church ” itself devoid of beauty, with its 
growing vines and flowers, and its shifting lights 
and shadows as the soft clouds sailed slowly through 
the blue sky overhead. As to the audience — no 
scholarly orator in a Fifth Avenue cathedral found 
that day more attentive listeners than did that tired- 
looking minister find in the curiously-assorted 
groups before him — the swarthy Mexicans, the 
picturesque cowboys, the eager-eyed, fresh-faced 
young girls from a far-away town in the East. 

They sang first, Genevieve’s own clear voice 
leading; and even Tilly, who seldom sang in church 
at home, found herself joining heartily in “ Nearer 
my God to Thee,” and “ Bringing in the Sheaves.” 
There was something so free, so whole-souled about 
the music in that soft outdoor air, that she, as well 
as some of the others, decided that never before 
had any music sounded so inspiring. 

For the first two minutes after the preacher arose 
to begin his sermon, Mrs. Kennedy saw nothing 
but the dust on the right shoulder of his coat. But 


130 


SIX STAR RANCH 


after that she saw nothing but his earnest eyes. 
She had fallen then quite under the sway of his 
clear, ringing voice. 

** * While Josiah was yet young, in the sixteenth 
year of his age, he began to seek the God of his 
fathers,’ ” announced the clear, ringing voice as 
the text; and Genevieve, hearing it, wondered if 
the minister could have known that at least a part 
of his audience that day would be so exactly, or so 
very nearly, ‘‘ in the sixteenth year ” of their own 
age. 

It was a good sermon, and it was well preached. 
The time, the place, the occasion, the atmosphere 
all helped, too. All the Happy Hexagons paid 
reverent attention. Tilly, fresh from her somewhat 
amazing experience with Cordelia, made many and 
stern resolutions to be everything that was good 
and helpful, nothing that was bad and hateful. 
Genevieve, who had slipped off her piano stool to 
an easier chair, sat with dreamy, tender eyes. She 
was thinking of the dear mother, who, as she could 
so well remember, had told her that she must always 
be good and brave and true first, before anything 
else. 

Good and brave and true ! ” She wondered if 
she could — always. It seemed so easy to do it now, 
with this good man’s earnest voice in her ears. But 
it was so hard, so strangely hard, at other times. 
And there were so many things — so many, many 


SIX STAR RANCH 


131 


little things — that to Aunt Julia and Miss Jane 
looked so big ! — things, too, that to her seemed 
eminently all right. 

‘‘ * When Josiah was yet young, in the sixteenth 
year of his age, he began to seek the God of his 
fathers,’ ” quoted the minister again, impressively; 
and Genevieve realized then, with misty eyes, that 
the sermon was done. 

The minister stayed to dinner, of course; and, 
in spite of her interest in the sermon, Teresa had 
seen to it that the dinner was everything that one 
could ask of it. The minister had the place of 
honor at the table, and proved to be a most agree- 
able talker. Genevieve had not caught his name 
distinctly, but she thought it was “ Jones.” He 
lived in Bolo, he said, having recently moved there 
from a distant part of the state. He hoped that he 
might be able to do good work there. Certainly 
there was need that somebody do something. In 
response to Mr. Hartley’s cordial invitation to stay 
a few days at the ranch, he answered with visible 
regret : 

‘‘ Thank you, sir. Nothing would please me 
more, but it is quite out of the question. I must go 
back this afternoon. I have a service in Bolo this 
evening.” 

You must be a busy man,” observed Mr. Hart- 
ley, genially. 


132 


SIX STAR RANCH 


The minister sighed. 

I am — yet I can’t do half that I want to. This 
outside work among the ranches I shall try to carry 
on as best I can. But you’re all so afraid you’ll have 
a neighbor nearer than a score of miles,” he added 
with a whimsical smile, ‘‘ that I can’t get among you 
very often.” 

It was after dinner that the minister chanced to 
hear Genevieve speak of herself as a Happy Hexa- 
gon. 

“ Hexagon ? — Hexagon ? ” he echoed smilingly. 
‘‘ And are you, too, a Happy Hexagon ? ” he asked, 
turning to the mistress of the Six Star Ranch. 

Why, yes. Do you mean you know another 
one?” questioned the girl, all interest immediately. 
‘‘ It’s the name of our girls’ club — the Hexagon 
Club.” 

No, but I heard of one, once,” rejoined the man. 
“ And it isn’t usual, you know, so it attracted my 
attention.” 

“But where was it? When was it? We sup- 
posed we were the only Happy Hexagons in the 
world,” cried Genevieve. 

The minister smiled. 

“ I found my Happy Hexagons at the bottom of 
a letter from the East.” 

“ A letter from the East ? ” Genevieve’s voice 
held now a curious note of wild unbelief. 

“ Yes. It came before we moved to Bolo. My 


SIX STAR RANCH 


133 


elder daughter was teaching in the East, and was 
taken ill. Some of her girls wrote to us.’’ 

Genevieve sprang to her feet. 

‘‘Are you — you can’t be — -the Rev. Luke 
Jones ! ” she cried. 

“ That is my name.” 

“ And is Quentina your daughter ? ” 

It was the minister's turn to look amazed. 

“ Why, yes ; but — how do you know ? Are you 
— you can’t be — my Happy Hexagons ! ” he ejacu- 
lated. 

She nodded laughingly. She spoke, too; but 
what she said was not heard. All of the Happy 
Hexagons were talking by that time. The Rev. Mr. 
Jones, indeed, found himself besieged on all sides 
with eager questions and amazed comments. 

Under cover of the confusion, Mr. Hartley turned 
in puzzled wonder to Mrs. Kennedy. 

“ Will you tell me what all this is about?” he 
begged. 

Mrs. Kennedy smiled. 

“ Of course ! I think perhaps it is all new to you. 
Last winter Miss Alice Jones, a Texas lady and the 
girls’ Latin teacher, was taken ill. The girls were 
very attentive, and did lots of little things for her; 
but she grew worse and had to leave. Just before 
she went, the mother wrote a letter thanking the 
girls, and in the letter was a note signed ‘ Quentina 
Jones.’ Quentina was a younger sister, it seemed^ 


134 SIX STAR RANCH 


and she, too, wished to thank the girls. Of course 
the girls were delighted, and immediately answered 
it, signing themselves ' The Happy Hexagons.’ The 
teacher went away then, and the girls heard noth- 
ing more. But they have talked of Quentina Jones 
ever since.” 

But it’s all so wonderful,” cried Genevieve, her 
voice rising dominant at last. “ Where is Miss 
Alice Jones, and how is she? ” 

She is better, thank you, though not very strong 
yet. She is teaching in Colorado.” 

“ Oh, I’m so glad,” cried Genevieve, but I wish 
we could see her, too. Only think, girls, of Quen- 
tina Jones being right here, only eighteen miles 
away ! ” 

One would think eighteen miles were a mere 
step! ” laughed Tilly. 

‘‘ They are — in Texas,” retorted Genevieve. 
Then, to the minister she said : “ Now tell us, please, 
Mr. Jones, what we can do. We want to see Quen- 
tina right away, quick. We can’t wait! Can 
she come over? Can't she? We’d love to have 
her ! ” 

The minister shook his head slowly. 

“ I’m afraid not, Miss Genevieve — thank you 
just the same. I’d love to have her. It would do 
her such a world of good, poor little girl, to have 
one happy time with all you young people ! But my 
wife has a lame foot just now, and Quentina simply 


SIX STAR RANCH 135 


cannot be spared. You know she has several 
brothers, so we have quite a family. But, I’ll tell 
you what — you young ladies must all come to see 
us.” 

Oh, thank you! We’d love to — and we will, 
too.” (Back in her ranch home, it was easy for 
Genevieve to slip into her old independent way of 
consulting no one’s will but her own.) ‘‘ When do 
you want us ? ” 

“ But, my dear,” interposed Mrs. Kennedy, 
hastily, “ if Mrs. Jones is not well, surely we cannot 
ask her to take in six noisy girls as guests I ” 

“ Why, no — of course not,” stammered Gene- 
vieve. The rest of the Happy Hexagons looked 
suddenly heartbroken. But the minister smiled re- 
assuringly. 

“ My wife isn’t ill — only lame ; and she loves 
young people. She’ll be just as eager for you to 
come as Quentina will be — and Quentina just sim- 
ply won’t take ‘ no ’ for an answer. I’m sure. She 
talked for days of the Happy Hexagons, after your 
letter came. You must come, only — ” he hesitated, 
“ only I’m afraid you’ll be a little cramped for room. 
A village parsonage isn’t a ranch, you know. But, 
if you don’t mind sort of — picnicking, and having 
to stand up in the corner to sleep — ” he paused 
quizzically. 

“We adore standing up and sleeping in corners,” 
declared Genevieve, promptly. 


136 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘‘Then shall we call it Tuesday?’' smiled Mr. 
Jones. 

“ But how can they go ? ” questioned Mrs. Ken- 
nedy, in an anxious voice. 

“ Why, they might ride it,” began Mr. Hartley, 
slowly ; “ still, that would hardly do — even should 
the ponies come in time — such a long trip when 
they haven’t ridden any here, yet. I’ll tell you. 
We’ll let Carlos drive them over in the carriage 
early Tuesday morning. I reckon the seven of them 
can stow themselves away, somehow — it holds six 
with room to spare on every seat. Then, Wednes- 
day afternoon, he can drive them back. Meanwhile, 
he can stay himself in the town and get some sup- 
plies that I’m needing.” 

“ But seems to me that gives us a very short 
visit,” demurred Mr. Jones, as he rose to take his 
leave. 

“ Quite long enough — for the good wife,” de- 
clared Mrs. Kennedy, decisively. And thus the 
matter was settled. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


137 


CHAPTER XI 

QUENTINA 

Quite the most absorbing topic of conversation 
Monday was, of course, the coming visit to Quen- 
tina Jones. 

But what is her name ? ” demanded Mr. Hart- 
ley at last, almost impatiently. “ It isn’t ‘ Quen- 
tina,’ of course. I know that man who was here 
Sunday would never have named a daughter of his 
‘ Quentina.’ ” 

‘‘ Her name is ‘ Clorinda Dorinda,’ ” replied 
Genevieve. ‘‘ She told us so in her letter; but she 
said she was always called ‘ Quentina.’ I don’t 
know why.” 

Whew ! I should think she would be,” laughed 
Mr. Hartley. Only fancy having to be called 
* Clorinda Dorinda ’ whenever you were wanted ! ” 

‘‘ Sounds like a rhyming dictionary to me,” 
chuckled Tilly. ' Clorinda, Dorinda, Lucinda, 
Miranda,’ ” she chanted. 

Mr. Hartley laughed, and walked off. 

“Well, I’ll leave her to you, anyhow, whatever 
she is,” he called back. 


138 


SIX STAR RANCH 


ril bet he’s just dying to go with us, all the 
same,” whispered Tilly, saucily. \ 

Cordelia frowned, hesitated, then spoke. 

Auntie says ladies don’t bet,” she observed, in i 
her severest manner. 

“ Oh, don’t they? ” snapped Tilly; then she, too, 
frowned, and hesitated. All right, Cordy — Cor- 
delia ; see that you don’t do it, then,” she concluded 
good-naturedly. 

Monday was a very quiet day for the girls at the ^ 
ranch. Mrs. Kennedy had insisted from the first 
upon this. She said that the next two days would be 
quite exciting enough to call for all the rest possible 
beforehand. So, except for the usual watching of 
the boys’ morning start to work, there was little but 
music, books, and letter-writing allowed. 

Tuesday dawned clear, but very warm. The girls 
were all awake at sunrise, and were soon ready for 
the early breakfast. Almost at once, afterward, 
they stowed themselves — with little crowding but 
much giggling — in the carriage, and called gayly 
to Carlos:' We’re all ready! ” 

“Yes, we’re all aboard, Carlos,” cried Genevieve. 

“ Good, Senorita 1 It is ver’ glad I am to see you 
so prompt to the halter,” grinned Carlos. “ Quien 
sabef — mebbe I didn’t reckon on corrallin’ the 
whole bunch of you so soon ! ” 

Genevieve laughed, even while she made a wry 
face. 


SIX STAR RANCH 139 


Fm afraid Carlos remembers that I was never 
on time, girls,” she pouted. “ But you don’t know, 
Carlos, what a marvel of promptness I’ve become 
back East — specially since somebody gave me a 
watch,” she finished, smiling into the old man’s 
face. 

“ All ready ! ” grinned Carlos, climbing into his 
seat. 

“ Let’s give our Texas yell,” proposed Tilly, 
softly, as she looked back to see Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. 
Hartley, and Mammy Lindy on the gallery steps. 

Now count, Cordelia! ” 

And Cordelia did count. Once again her face ex- 
pressed a tragedy of responsibility, and once again 
the resulting 

Texas, Texas, Tex — Tex — Texas! 

Texas, Texas, Rah! Rah! Rah! 

GENEVIEVE! ” 

was the glorious success it ought to have been. So 
to a responsive chorus of shouts, laughter, and 
hand-clapping, the Happy Hexagons drove away 
from the ranch house. 

It was a pleasant drive, though a warm one. It 
did seem a little long, too, so anxious were they to 
reach their goal. The prairie sights and sounds, 
though interesting, were not so new, now. Even 
the two or three herds of cattle they met, and the 


140 


SIX STAR RANCH 


groups of cowboys they saw galloping across the 
prairies, did not create quite the excitement they 
always had created heretofore. Quentina and the | 
minister’s home were so much more interesting to ^ 
think of ! 

What do you suppose she’ll be like ? ” asked j 
Elsie. j 

Qtden sahe? ” laughed Genevieve. ; 

‘‘ There ! what does that mean ? ” demanded j 
Tilly. I’ve heard it lots of times since I’ve been \ 
here.” j 

‘‘ * Who knows ? ’ ”* translated Genevieve, j 

smilingly. 

“ Yes, who does know? ” retorted Tilly, not un- 
derstanding. “ But what does it mean ? ” ! 

Genevieve laughed outright. 

“That’s just what it means — ‘Who knows?’ 
The Mexicans and the cowboys use it a lot here, 
and when I come back I get to saying it, too.” 

“ I should think you did,” shrugged Tilly. 

“ Well, anyhow, let’s talk straight English for 
a while. Let’s talk of Quentina. What do you sup- 
pose she’s like, girls ? ” 

“ Let’s guess,” proposed Genevieve. “We can, 
you know, for Miss Jones was too sick to tell us 
anything, and we haven’t a thing to go by but 
Quentina’s letter, and that didn’t tell much.” 

“ All right, let’s guess. Let’s make a game of 
it,” cried Tilly. “ We’ll each tell what we think. 


SIX STAR RANCH 141 


and then see who comes the nearest. You begin, 
Genevieve.’' 

‘‘ All righf. I think she’s quiet and tall, and very 
dark like a Spaniard,” announced Genevieve, weigh- 
ing her words carefully. 

“ I think she’s bookish, and maybe stupid,” de- 
clared Tilly. “ Her letter sounded queer.” 

“ I think she’s little, and got yellow hair and 
light-blue eyes,” said Bertha. 

“ I think she’s got curls — black ones — and 
looks lovely in red,” declared Elsie Martin. 

We can trust you, Elsie, to get in something 
about her clothes,” chuckled Tilly. 

Well, I think she’s got brown eyes like Gene- 
vieve’s, and brown hair like hers, too,” asserted 
Alma Lane. 

“ Now, Cordelia,” smiled Genevieve, ‘‘ it’s your 
turn. You haven’t said, yet.” 

‘‘ There isn’t anything left for me to say,” replied 
Cordelia, in a slightly worried voice. ‘‘ You’ve 
got all the pretty things used up. I should just have 
to say I think she’s fat and homely — and I don’t 
think I ought to say that, for it would be a down- 
right fib. I don’t think she’s that at all ! ” 

There was a general laugh at this; then, for a 
time, there was silence while the carriage rolled 
along the prairie road. 

Carlos had no difficulty in finding the home of 
the Rev. Mr. Jones in Bolo. It proved to be a 


142 


SIX STAR RANCH 


i 


little house, unattractive, and very plain. It looked 
particularly forlorn with its bare little front yard, 
in which some one had made an attempt to raise 
nasturtiums and petunias. 

Mercy ! I guess we’ll have to stand up in cor- 
ners to sleep,” gurgled Tilly, as the carriage stopped 
before the side door. 

“Sh-h!” warned Genevieve. “Tilly, isnT it 
awful ? Only think of our Quentina’s living here ! ” 

At that moment the door of the little house 
opened, and Mr. Jones appeared. From around his 
feet there seemed literally to tumble out upon the 
steps several boys of “ assorted sizes,” as Tilly ex- 
pressed it afterward. Then the girls saw her in 
the doorway — Quentina. She was slender, not 
very tall, but very pretty, with large, dark eyes, and 
fine yellow hair that fluffed and curled all about her 
forehead and ears and neck. 

“ O Happy Hexagons, Happy Hexagons, wel- 
come, welcome. Happy Hexagons ! ” breathed the 
girl in the doorway ecstatically, clasping her hands. 

“ Sounds almost like our Texas yell,” giggled 
Tilly, under her breath. 

Genevieve was the first to reach the ground. 

“Quentina — I know you’re Quentina; and I’m 
Genevieve Hartley,” she cried, before Mr. Jones 
had a chance to speak. 

“ Yes, this is Quentina,” he said then, cordially 
shaking Genevieve’s hand. “ And now I’ll let you 


i 


SIX STAR RANCH 


143 


present her to your young friends, please, because 
you can do it so much better than L’’ 

They were all out now, on the ground, hanging 
back a little diffidently. It was this, perhaps, that 
made Cordelia think that something ought to be 
said or done. She came hurriedly forward as she 
caught Genevieve’s eye and heard her own name 
called. 

Yes, I’m Cordelia, and I’m so glad to see you,” 
she stammered; ''and I’m so glad you’re not fat 
and homely, too — er — that is,” she corrected 
feverishly, " I mean — we didn’t any of us get you 
right, you know.” 

" Get me — right ? ” Quentina opened her dark 
eyes to their fullest extent. 

Cordelia blushed, and tried to back away. With 
her eyes she implored Tilly or Elsie to take her 
place. 

It was Genevieve who came to the rescue. 

" We’ll have to own up, Quentina,” she laughed. 
" On the way here we were trying to picture how 
you look; and of' course we each had to guess a 
different thing, so we got all kinds of combinations.” 

" Yes, but we didn’t get yours,” chuckled Tilly, 
coming easily forward, with outstretched hand. 

" Indeed we didn’t,” echoed Elsie, admiringly. 

" Why, of course we couldn’t,” stammered Cor- 
delia, still red of face. " We never, never could 
think of anything so pretty as you really are ! ” 


144 SIX STAR RANCH 


Quentina laughed now, and raised hurried hands 
to hide the pretty red that had flown to her cheeks. 

Oh, you funny, funny Happy Hexagons ! she 
cried, in her sweet. Southern drawl. 

Naturally there could be nothing stiff about the 
introductions, after that, and they were dispatched 
in short order, even to Mr. Jones’s pulling the boys 
into line, and announcing: 

■‘‘This is Paul, with the solemn face. And this 
grinning little chap is Edward — Ned, for short; 
and these are the twins. Bob and Rob.” 

“Are they both ‘ Robert ’? ” questioned Tilly, in- 
terestedly. 

Mr. Jones smiled. 

“ Oh, no. Bob is Bolton, and Rob is Robert. 
The ‘ Rob and Bob ’ is Quentina’s idea — she likes 
the sound of it.” 

“ I told you ! — she is a rhyming dictionary,” 
whispered Tilly, in an aside that nearly convulsed 
the two girls that heard her. 

Inside the house they all met “ mother.” 

Mother, in spite of her lame foot, was a very 
forceful personality. She was bright and cheery, 
too, and she made the girls feel welcome and at 
home immediately. 

“ It’s so good of you to come ! ” she exclaimed. 
“ Poor Quentina has been shut up with me for 
weeks. But I’m better, now — lots better; and I 
shall soon be about again.” 


- SIX STAR RANCH 145 


‘‘ I think it was very good of you to let us come/’ 
returned Genevieve, politely, specially when you 
aren’t well yourself. But we’ll try not to make you 
any more trouble than we can’t help.” 

“ Trouble, dear child ! I reckon we don’t call you 
trouble,” declared the minister’s wife, fervently, 
“ after all your kindness to my daughter, Alice.” 
Genevieve raised a protesting hand, but Mrs. Jones 
went on smilingly. And then that letter to Quen- 
tina — she’s never ceased to talk and dream of the 
girls who sent it to her.” 

“ Oh, I did like it so much — indeed I did,” 
chimed in Quentina. Why, Genevieve, I made a 
poem on it — a lovely poem just like Tennyson’s 
‘ Margaret,’ you know ; only I put in ‘ Hexagons,’ 
and changed the words to fit, of course.” 

Tilly nudged Elsie violently, and Elsie choked a 
spasmodic giggle into a cough; but Quentina un- 
hesitatingly went on. 

It began : 

^ O sweet pale Hexagons, 

O rare pale Hexagons, 

What lit your eyes with tearful power, 

Like moonhght on a falling shower? 

Why sent you, loves, so full and free. 

Your letter sweet to little me? ’ 

That’s just the first, you know,” smiled Quentina, 
engagingly, ‘‘ and of course when I wrote it I didn’t 


146 


SIX STAR RANCH 

know you weren’t really ' pale,’ at all ; but then, 
we can just call that part poetic license.” 

Genevieve laughed frankly. Tilly giggled. Cor- j 
delia looked nervously from them to Quentina. 

“ I’m sure, that — that’s very pretty,” she fal- 
tered. 

Mrs. Jones smiled. 

“ I’m afraid, for a little, you won’t know just 
what to make of Quentina,” she explained laugh- 
ingly. ‘‘ We’re used to her turning everything into 
jingles, but strangers are not.” 

“ Oh, mother, I don’t,” cried Quentina, reproach- 
fully. There’s heaps and heaps of things that I 
never wrote a line of poetry about. But how could 
I help it? — that beautiful letter, and the Happy 
Hexagons, and all! It just wrote itself. I sent it 
East, too, to a magazine, two or three times — but 
they didn’t put it in,” she added, as an afterthought. 

Why, what a shame! ” murmured Tilly. 

Genevieve looked up quickly. Tilly was wearing 
her most innocent, most angelic expression, but 
Genevieve knew very well the naughtiness behind it. 
Quentina, however, accepted it as pure gold. 

“Yes, wasn’t it?” she rejoined cheerfully. “I 
felt right bad, particularly as I was going to send * 
you all a copy when it was published.” 

“ You can give us a manuscript copy, Quentina. 
We would love that,” interposed Genevieve, hur- 
riedly. Behind Quentina’s back she gave Tilly then 



SIX STAR RANCH 


147 


a frowning shake of the head — though it must be 
confessed that her dancing eyes rather spoiled the 
effect of it. 

“ Maybe it’s because her name rhymes — ^ Qo- 
rinda Dorinda,’ ” suggested Tilly, interestedly; 
maybe that’s why she likes to write poetry so well.” 

Mrs. Jones laughed. 

That’s what her father says. But Clorinda her- 
self changed her own name about as soon as she 
could talk. She couldn’t manage the hard ‘ Clo- 
rinda ’ very well, and I had a Mexican nurse girl, 
Quentina, whose name she much preferred. So 
very soon she was calling herself ‘ Quentina,’ and 
insisting that every one else should do the same.” 

“ But it’s so much prettier,” declared the minis- 
ter’s daughter, fervently. Of course ^ Clorinda 
Dorinda ’ are some pretty, because they rhyme so, 
but I like ‘ Quentina ’ better. Besides, there are 
lots more pretty words to make that rhyme with — 
Florena, Dulcina, Rowena, and verbena, you know.” 

“ And ' you’ve seen her,’ ” suggested Tilly, 
gravely. 

Quentina frowned a moment in thought. 

“ Y-yes,” she admitted; “ but I don’t think that’s 
a very pretty one.” 

It was Genevieve this time who choked a giggle 
into a cough, and who, a moment later, turned very 
eagerly to welcome an interruption in the person 
of the Rev. Mr. Jones. 


148 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Soon after this Quentina suggested a trip through j 
the house. 

You see I want to show you where you’re going ^ 
to sleep,” she explained. f 

“ Oh, Mr. Jones told us that,” observed Tilly, as j 
the seven girls trooped up the narrow stairway. \ 
“ He said we were to stand up in the comers.” | 
Tilly spoke with the utmost gravity. ) 

Quentina turned, wide-eyed. j 

Why, you couldn’t! You’d never sleep a bit,” j 
she demurred concernedly. ‘‘ Besides, it isn’t nec- j 
essary.” 

All but Tilly and Genevieve tittered audibly. 
Tilly still looked the picture of innocence. Gene- 
vieve frowned at her sternly, then stepped forward 
and put her arm around Quentina’s waist. 

“ Tilly was only joking, Quentina,” she ex- 
plained. ‘‘ When you know Tilly better you’ll 
find she never by any chance talks sense — but 
always nonsense,” she finished, looking at Tilly | 
severely. ] 

Tilly wrinkled up her nose and pouted; but her \ 
eyes laughed. ^ 

“ There, here‘s my room,” announced Quentina, a . 
moment later. We’ve put a couch in it, and if you ■ 
don’t mind my sleeping with you, three can be here. 
Then across the hall here is the twins’ room, and 
two more can sleep in this; and Paul and Ned’s 
room down there at the end of the hall will take 


SIX STAR RANCH 


149 


the other two. There! You see we’ve got it fixed 
right well.’’ 

“Oh, yes — well for us; but how about the 
boys?” cried Genevieve. “Where will they 
sleep ? ” 

Quentina’s lips parted, but before the words were 
uttered, a new thought seemed to have come to her. 
With an odd little glance at Tilly, she drawled de- 
murely : 

“ Oh, they are going to sleep in the comers.” 

They all laughed this time. 

“ Well, now we’ve done the whole house, and 
we’ll take the yard,” proposed Quentina, as, a little 
later, she led the way down-stairs and out of doors. 
“ There I aren’t my nasturtiums beautiful ? ” she 
exulted, with the air of a fond mother displaying 
her first-born. She was pointing to a bed of strag- 
gling, puny plants, beautifully free from weeds, and 
showing here and there a few brilliant blossoms. 

Tilly turned her back suddenly. Cordelia looked 
distressed. Bertha cried thoughtlessly : 

“ Oh, but you ought to see Genevieve’s, Quentina, 
if you want to see nasturtiums I ” 

“ Oh, but I have Carlos,” cut in Genevieve, hur- 
riedly, “ and Carlos can make anything grow. 
What a pretty dark one this is,” she finished, bend- 
ing over one of the plants. 

Quentina’s face clouded. 

“ I don’t suppose they are much, really,” she ad- 


150 


SIX STAR RANCH 


mitted. “But I’ve v^orked so hard over them! 
Father says the earth isn’t good at all. I was so 
pleased when that big red one came out! I made 
a poem on it right off : 

“ ‘ O nasturtium, sweet nasturtium, 

Did you blossom just for me? 

Where, oh, where did you unearth ’em — 

All those colors that I see? ’ 

That’s the way it began. Wasn’t I lucky to think 
of that ‘ unearth ’em ? ’ Besides, it’s really true, 
you know. They do unearth ’em, and ’twas such a 
nice rhyme for nasturtium. Now there’s petunia; 
I think that’s a perfectly beautiful sounding word, 
but I’ve never been able to find a single thing that 
rhymed with it. I do love flowers so,” she added, 
after a moment; “ but we’ve never had many. They 
always burn up, or dry up, or get eaten up, or just 
don’t come up at all. Of course we’ve never had 
a really pretty place. Ministers like us don’t, you 
know,” she finished cheerfully. 

There was no reply to this. Not one of the 
Happy Hexagons could think of anything to say. 
For once even Tilly was at a loss for words. It 
was Quentina herself who broke the silence. 

“ Now tell me all about the East. Let’s go up 
on the gallery and sit down. I do so want to go 
East to school; but of course I can’t.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


151 


Why not ? ” asked Bertha. 

“ Oh, it costs too much,” returned Quentina. 
‘‘ You know ministers don’t have money for such 
things.” Her voice was still impersonally cheerful. 

“ How old are you? ” asked Elsie, as they seated 
themselves on chairs and steps. 

Sixteen last month.” 

“ Oh, I wish you could go,” cried Genevieve. 
“ Wouldn’t it be just lovely if you could come to 
Sunbridge and go to school with us ! ” 

“ Where is Sunbridge ? I always thought of it 
as just ‘ East,’ you know.” 

'' In New Hampshire.” 

“ Oh,” said Quentina, with a sigh of disappoint- 
ment. I hoped it was in Massachusetts, near 
Boston, you know. I thought Alice said it was near 
Boston.” 

‘‘ Well, we aren’t so awfully far from Boston,” 
bridled Tilly. It only takes an hour and a half 
or less to go there. I go with mother every little 
while when I’m home.” 

Quentina sprang to her feet. 

“ Boston ! Oh, girls, you don’t know how I want 
to see Boston, and Paul Revere’s grave, and the 
Common, and the old State House, and Bunker 
Hill, and that lovely North Church where they 
hung the lantern, you know. 

‘ Listen, my children, and you shall hear 
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,’ ” 


152 


SIX STAR RANCH 


she began to chant impressively. Oh, don’t you 
just love that poem? ” 

“Who was Paul Revere?” asked Tilly, pleas- 
antly. 

“ Paul Revere ! ” exclaimed Quentina, plainly 
shocked. “Who was Paul Revere!'' 

“ Tilly! ” scolded Genevieve, as soon as she could 
command her voice. “ Quentina, that’s only some 
of Tilly’s nonsense. Tilly knows very well who 
Paul Revere was.” 

“Yes, of course she does; and we all do,” in- 
terposed Elsie Martin. “ But I’ll own right up, I 
don’t know half as much about all those historical 
things and places as I ought to.” 

“ Neither do I,” chimed in Bertha. “ Just be- 
cause they’re right there handy, and we can go any 
time, we — ” 

“We don't go any time,” laughed Alma Lane, 
finishing the sentence for her. 

“ I know it,” said Elsie. “We had a cousin with 
us for two weeks last summer, and she just doted 
on old relics and graveyards. She made us take her 
into Boston ’most every day, and she asked all sorts 
of questions which I couldn’t answer.” 

“Yes, I know; but excuse me, please,” put in 
Tilly, flippantly. “ I don’t want any graveyards 
and relics in mine.” 

“ That’s slang, Tilly,” reproved Cordelia. 

“Is it?” murmured Tilly, serenely. 


SIX STAR RANCH 153 


“ Besides, people come from miles and miles just 
to see those things that we neglect, right at our 
doors, almost/^ 

But how can you neglect them ? remonstrated 
Quentina. '' Why, if I ever go to Boston, I 
sha’n’t sleep nor eat till Fve seen Paul Revere’s 
grave ! 

“ Well, I shouldn’t sleep nor eat if I did,” shud- 
dered Tilly. 

“ You mean you’ve nez^er seen it? ” gasped Quen- 
tina, unbelievingly. 

‘‘Guilty!” Tilly held up her hand- unblush- 
ingly. 

“ Never you mind, Quentina,” soothed Genevieve. 
“We are interested in those things, really.” 

“ Then you have seen it? ” 

“ Er — n-no, not that one,” confessed Genevieve, 
coloring. “ But I’ve seen heaps of other graves 
there,” she assured her hopefully, as if graves were 
the only open door to Quentina’s favor. 

“ Oh, you’ve had such chances,” envied Quen- 
tina. “Just think — Boston! You said you were 
near Boston ? ” 

“ Oh, yes.” 

“ Less than two hours away? ” 

“ Why, yes,” exclaimed Tilly, “ I told you. 
We’re less than an hour and a half away.” 

“ And are you a D. A. R., and Colonial Dames, 
and Mayflower Society members, and all that ? ” 


154 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Dear me ! I don’t know,” laughed Genevieve. 
^‘Why?” 

And do you read the Atlantic Monthly, and eat 
beans Saturday night, and fishballs Sunday morn- 
ing?” still hurried on Quentina. “You don’t any 
of you wear glasses, and I don’t think you speak 
very low.” 

“ Anything else? ” asked Tilly politely. 

“ Oh, yes, lots of things,” answered Quentina, 
“ but I’ve forgotten most of them.” 

“Quentina, what are you talking about?” 
laughed Genevieve. 

Quentina smiled oddly, then she sighed. 

“ It wasn’t true, of course. I knew it couldn’t 
be.” 

“What wasn’t true?” 

“ Something I found in one of father’s church 
papers about Rules for Living in New England. I 
cut it out. Wait a minute — it’s here, somewhere ! ” 
And, to the girls’ amazement, she dived into a pocket 
at the side of her dress, pulling out several clippings 
which seemed, mostly, to be verse. One was prose, 
and it was on this she pounced. “ Here it is. 
Listen.” And she read: 

“ ‘ Rules for Living in New England. You must 
be descended from the Puritans, and should belong 
to the Mayflower Society, or be a D. A. R., a Colo- 
nial Dame, or an S. A. R. You must graduate from 
Harvard, or Radcliffe, and must disdain all other 


SIX STAR RANCH 


155 


colleges. You must quote Emerson, read the Atlan- 
tic Monthly, and swear by the Transcript. You 
must wear glasses, speak in a low voice, eat beans 
on Saturday night, and fishballs on Sunday morn- 
ing. Always you must carry with you a green bag, 
and you should be a professional man, or woman, 
preferably of the literary variety. You should live 
not farther away from Boston than two hours’ ride, 
and of course you will be devoted to tombstones, 
relics, and antiques. You may tolerate Europe, but 
you must ignore the West. You must be slow of 
speech, dignified of conduct, and serene of temper. 
You must never be surprised, nor display undue 
emotion. Above all, you must be cultured.' 

‘‘ Now you see you haven’t done all those things,” 
she declared, as she finished the article. 

I reckon there are a few omissions — specially 
on my part,” laughed Genevieve. 

But you are happy there ? ” 

Indeed I am ! ” 

How I do wish I could go,” sighed Quentina. 

I should love Boston, I know. Alice did — 
though she still liked Texas better.” 

‘‘ Well, I know Boston would love you,” chuckled 
Tilly, unexpectedly. Girls, wouldn’t she be a pic- 
nic in Sunbridge? She’d be more of a circus than 
you were, Genevieve ! ” 

Thank you,” bowed Genevieve, with mock stiff- 


ness. 


156 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Oh, we loved you right away — and we should 
Ouentina, of course.” 

Thank you,” bowed Quentina, in her turn, 
laughingly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


157 


CHAPTER XII 

THE OPENING OF A BARREL 

It was a merry afternoon and evening that the 
Happy Hexagons spent at Quentina’s home, and it 
was still a merrier time that they had getting settled 
for the night. Even Tilly said at last: 

‘‘ Well, Quentina, it’s lucky a lame foot doesn’t 
have ears. I don’t know what your mother will say 
to us ! ” 

“ Only fancy if Miss Jane were here,” shivered 
Genevieve. 

It was just as the family were finishing breakfast 
the next morning that there came a knock at the 
door, and a man rolled in a large barrel. 

“ Oh, it’s the missionary barrel — our barrel from 
the East ! ” cried Quentina. ‘‘ I wonder now — 
what do you suppose there is in it ? ” 

“ There isn’t anything, I reckon, except old 
things,” piped up Rob, shrilly. 

Mrs. Jones colored painfully. 

‘‘ Robert, my son ! ” she remonstrated, in evident 
distress. 

“Well, mother, you know there isn’t — most 
generally,” defended Robert. 


158 


SIX STAR RANCH 


And if they are new, they’re the sort of things 
we couldn’t ever use,” added Ned. 

“ Boys, boys, that will do,” commanded the minis- 
ter, quickly. 

The minister, with Paul’s help, had the barrel 
nearly open by this time. 

‘'It isn’t from Sunbridge, is it?” asked Gene- 
vieve. 

“No — though we get them from there some- 
times; but this is from a little town in Vermont,” 
replied Mrs. Jones. “ We had a letter last week 
from the minister. He — he apologized a little; 
said that times had been hard, and that they’d had 
trouble to fill it. As if it wasn’t hard enough for us 
to take it, without that ! ” she finished bitterly, with 
almost a sob. 

“ Rita, my dear ! ” murmured her husband, in a 
low, distressed voice. 

Mrs. Jones dashed quick tears from her eyes. 

“ I know; I don’t mean to be ungrateful. But — 
times have been a little hard — with us!” 

Silent, and a little awed, the Happy Hexagons 
stood at one side. Genevieve, especially, looked out 
from troubled eyes. Very slowly Genevieve was 
waking up to the fact that not every one in the world 
had luxuries, or even what she would call ordinary 
comforts of living. Mrs. Jones, seeing her face, 
spoke hurriedly. 

“ There, there, girls, please forget what I said ! 


SIX STAR RANCH 


159 


It was very kind of those good people to send the 
barrel — very kind; and I am sure we shall find in 
it just what we want.” 

“ I know what you hope will be there/’ cried Bob, 

a new coat for Father, and a dress for you, and 
some underclothes for us boys. I heard you say so 
last night.” 

“ Yes ; and Quentina wants a ribbon — not dirty 
ones,” observed Rob. 

“Robert!” cried Quentina, very red of face. 
“ You know I don’t expect anything of the sort.” 

The barrel was open now, and eagerly the 
family gathered around it. Even Mrs. Jones’s chair 
was drawn forward so that she, too, might peep 
into it. 

First there was a great quantity of newspapers 
— the people had, indeed, found trouble to fill it, 
evidently. Next came a pincushion — faded pink 
satin, frilled with not over-clean white lace. 

“ I can use the lace for a collar,” cried Quentina, 
taking prompt possession of the cushion. “ I’m 
right glad oTf this ! ” 

A picture came next in a tarnished gilt frame — 
evidently somebody’s early attempts to paint nastur- 
tiums in oil. 

“ There’s a rival for your posies out in the yard,” 
murmured Tilly in Quentina’s ear. 

A pair of skates was pulled out next, then three 
dolls, one minus an arm. 


160 SIX STAR RANCH 


These might be good — on ice,” remarked 
Paul, who had picked up the skates. 

** Do you ever have any ice to skate on, here? ” 
asked Bertha. 

“ Not in the part of Texas I’ve ever been in,” he 
sighed. 

Mrs. Jones was ruefully smoothing the one-armed 
doll’s flimsy dress. 

‘‘I — I told them there were no little girls in the 
family,” she said, her worried eyes seeking her hus- 
band’s face. ‘‘It — it’s all right, of course; only 
— only these dolls did take space.” 

Some magazines came next, and a few old books, 
upon which the boys fell greedily — though the 
•books they soon threw to one side as if they were of 
little interest. 

Undergarments appeared then, plainly much 
worn and patched. To Genevieve they looked quite 
impossible. She almost cried when she saw how 
eagerly Mrs. Jones gathered the motley pile into her 
arms and began to sort them out with little ex- 
clamations of satisfaction. 

Next in the barrel were found an ink-stained 
apron, a bath-robe, nearly new — which plainly 
owed its presence to its hideous colors — two or 
three tin dishes (not new), a harmonica, a box con- 
taining a straw hat trimmed with drooping blue 
bows, several fans, a box of dominoes, a pocket- 
knife with a broken blade, several pairs of new hose, 


SIX STAR RANCH 


161 


marked plainly “ seconds/’ some sheets and pillow- 
cases (half-worn, but hailed with joy by Mrs. 
Jones), a kimono, an assortment of men’s half- 
worn shoes — pounced upon at once by Paul and 
his father, and not abandoned until it was found 
that only two were mates, and only one of these 
good for much wear. 

It was at this point that there came a muffled 
shout from Ned, whose head was far down in the 
barrel. 

** Here’s a package — a big one — and it’s 
marked ^ dress for Mrs. Jones.’ Mother, you did 
get it, after all ! ” he cried, tumbling the package 
into his mother’s lap. 

Tremblingly half a dozen pairs of hands at- 
tempted to untie the strings and to unwrap the 
coverings; then, across Mrs. Jones’s lap there lay 
a tawdry dress of pale-blue silk, spotted and soiled. 
Pinned to it was a note in a scrawling feminine 
hand : “ This will wash and make over nicely, I 
think, if you can’t wear it just as it is.” 

We have so many chances to wear light-blue 
silk, too,” was all that Mrs. Jones said. 

In the bottom of the barrel were a few new 
towels, very coarse, and some tablecloths and small, 
fringed napkins, also very coarse. 

Well, I’m sure, these are handy,” stammered 
the minister, who had not found his coat. 

Oh, yes,” answered his wife, wearily; “ only — 


162 


SIX STAR RANCH 


well, it so happens that every box for the last five 
years has held tea-napkins — and I don’t give many 
teas, you know, dear.” 

Genevieve choked back a sob. 

“I — I never saw such a — a horrid thing in 
all my life, as that barrel was,” she stormed hotly. 

I don’t see what folks were thinking of — to send 
such things ! ” 

'' They weren’t thinking, my dear, and that’s just 
what the trouble was,” answered Mrs. Jones, gently. 

They didn’t think, nor understand. Besides, there 
are very many nice things here that we can use 
beautifully. There always are, in every box, only 
— of course, some things aren't so useful.” 

“ I should say not ! ” snapped Genevieve. 

“ Well, I didn’t suppose anything could make me 
glad because Aunt Kate makes over the girls’ things 
for me,” spoke up Elsie Martin ; but something 
has now. She can’t send them in any missionary 
boxes, anyhow ! ” 

Mrs. Jones laughed, though she looked still more 
disturbed. 

“ But, girls, dear girls, please don’t say such 
things,” she expostulated. ‘‘ We are very, very 
grateful — indeed we are ; and it is right kind of 
them to remember us far-away missionaries with 
boxes and barrels ! ” 

‘ Missionary ’ ! ” sputtered Genevieve. ‘‘ ‘ Mis- 
sionary ’ ! I should think somebody had better be 


SIX STAR RANCH 


163 


missionary to them, and teach them what to send. 
Dolls and skates, indeed ! ” 

‘‘ But, my dear,” smiled Mrs. Jones, those 
might have been just the things — in some places; 
and besides, some of the boxes are — are better than 
this. Indeed they are ! ” 

It was at this point that Cordelia came forward 
hurriedly, and touched Mrs. Jones’s arm. Her face 
was a little white and strained looking. 

Mrs. Jones,” she faltered, I think I ought to 
tell you. I’m a minister’s niece, and I’ve seen lots 
of missionary boxes packed. I know just how they 
do it, too. I know just how thoughtless they — I 
mean we — are; and I just wanted to say that I’m 
very, very sure the next time we pack a box for 
any missionary, we’ll — we’ll see that our old shoes 
are mates, and that we don’t send dolls to boys ! ” 

There was a shout of gleeful appreciation from 
the boys, but there were only troubled sighs and 
frowns on the part of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. 

‘‘ Dear me ! I — I wish the barrel hadn’t come 
when you were here,” regretted the minister’s wife ; 

for indeed the things are all very, very nice. In- 
deed they are ! ” 

'' And now let’s go out to the flowers,” proposed 
Quentina. “ Maybe a new nasturtium has blos- 
somed.” 

All but one of the girls had left the room when 
Mr. Jones felt a timid touch on his arm. 


164 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘‘Mr. Jones, could I speak to you — just a 
minute, please? asked a low voice. “ Tm Cordelia 
Wilson, you know.” 

“Why, ceitainly, Miss Cordelia! What can I 
do for you ? ” he answered genially, leading the way 
to the tiny study off the sitting room. 

“ Well, Fm not sure you can do anything,” re- 
plied Cordelia, with hesitating truthfulness. “ But 
I wanted to ask : do you know anybody in Texas by 
the name of Mr. John Sanborn, or Mrs. Lizzie Hig- 
gins, or Mr. Lester Goodwin, or Mr. James Hunt? ” 

The minister looked a little surprised. 

“ N-no, I can’t say that I do,” he said, slowly. 

Cordelia’s countenance fell. 

“ Oh, Fm SO sorry ! You see I thought — being 
a minister out here, so, — you might know them.” 

“ But — Texas is quite a large state,” he re- 
minded her, with a smile. 

“ I know,” sighed the girl. “ Fve found that 
out.” 

“Are these people friends of yours?” 

“ Oh, no; they’re just a son, and a brother, and 
a cousin, and a runaway daughter that Fm looking 
up for Sunbridge people.” 

“ Oh, indeed ! ” The minister hoped his voice 
was politely steady. 

“ Yes, sir. Of course I haven’t had a chance to 
ask many people, yet — only one or two of the cow- 
boys. One of them was named ‘ John,’ but he wasn’t 


SIX STAR RANCH 


165 


my John — I mean, he wasn’t the right John,” cor- 
rected Cordelia with a pink blush. 

The minister coughed a little spasmodically be- 
hind his hand. As he did not speak Cordelia went 
on, her eyes a little wistful. 

‘‘Would you be willing, please, to take those 
names down on paper, Mr. Jones? ” 

“ Why, certainly. Miss Cordelia,” agreed the 
man, reaching for his notebook. 

“ You see you are a minister, and you do meet 
people, so you might find them. I’d be so glad if 
you could, or if I could. They’re all needed very 
much — indeed they are. You see. Hermit Joe is 
so lonesome for his son, and Mrs. Snow so worried 
about Lizzie, and Mrs. Granger has lost her hus- 
band, so she hasn’t anybody left but her cousin, now, 
and Miss Sally is so very poor and needs her brother 
so much.” 

“ Of course, of course,” murmured the minister. 

A few moments later his notebook bore this 
entry, which had been made under Cordelia’s care- 
ful direction : 


“ Wanted: — Information about — 


John Sanborn . 

whose father 

is lonesome, 

Mrs. Lizzie Higgins 

“ mother 

“ worried. 

Lester Goodwin 

“ cousin 

“ a widow, 

and 



James Hunt 

“ sister 

“ very poor. 


166 SIX STAR RANCH 


If I find any of these people Til convey all your 
messages to the best of my ability,” promised the 
minister. 

“ Thank you. Then Fll go out now to the nas- 
turtiums,” sighed the girl, contentedly. 

All too soon the visit came to a close, and all too 
soon Carlos appeared with the carriage. Then came 
hurried good-byes, full of laughter, tears, and prom- 
ises, with all the Jones family except the mother, 
grouped upon the steps — and the mother’s chair 
was close to the window. 

“ Oh, Happy Hexagons, Happy Hexagons, 

Come again another day. 

Oh, don’t forget me. Happy Hexagons, 

When you are so far away! ” 

chanted Quentina, waving one handkerchief, and 
wiping her eyes with another. 

‘‘Girls, quick! — give her the Texas yell,” cried 
Genevieve in a low voice ; “ only say ‘ Quentina ’ 
at the end instead of my name. Now, remember — 
‘ Quentina ’ ! ” she finished excitedly. 

“Good!” exulted Tilly. “Of course we will! 
Now count, Cordelia.” 

A moment later, Quentina’s amazed, delighted 
ears heard: 

“ Texas, Texas, Tex — Tex — Texas ! 

Texas, Texas, Rah! Rah! Rah! 

Quentina! ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 167 


Then, amidst a chorus of shouts and laughter, the 
carriage drove away. 

Well, young ladies,” demanded Mr. Hartley, 
when the tired but happy Hexagon Club trooped up 
the front steps of the ranch house late that after- 
noon, how about it ? What did you think of the 
fair Quentina ? ” 

Think of her ! O Quentina, you should ’seen 
her! ” sang Tilly, in so perfect an imitation of the 
minister’s daughter that the girls broke into peals 
of laughter. 

“ She’s lovely. Father — honestly, she is,” de- 
clared Genevieve, as soon as she could speak. 

“ And so pretty I ” added Cordelia, ‘‘ and has 
such a sweet, slow way of speaking I ” 

Such lovely dark eyes 1 ” — this from Alma. 

“ And such glorious hair — all golden and 
kinky ! ” breathed Bertha. 

And she looks just as pretty in her high- 
necked apron as she does in her white dress,” cried 
Elsie. 

Well, well, upon my soul! What .is this young 
lady — a paragon?” laughed Mr. Hartley, raising 
his eyebrows. 

I’ll tell you just what she is, sir,” vouchsafed 
Tilly, confidentially. “ She is a rhyming dictionary, 
Mr. Hartley, just as I said in the first place; and 
I’d be willing to guarantee any time that she’d find 


168 


SIX STAR RANCH 


a rhyme for any word in this or any other language 
within two seconds after the gun is fired. If you 
don’t believe it, you should hear her ‘ unearth ’em ’ 
on the ‘ nasturtium.’ ” 

Tilly, Tilly!” choked Genevieve, convulsively. 

‘‘ Oh, but she said she couldn’t find one for 
petunia,” broke in the exact Cordelia. 

“ You don’t mean she actually writes — poetry! ” 
ejaculated Mrs. Kennedy. 

‘'Writes it! — my dear lady!” (Tilly had as- 
sumed her most superior air.) “ If that were all! 
But she talks it, day in and day out. Everything 
is a poem, from a letter to a scraggly nasturtium. 
She carries an unfailing supply of her own verses in 
her head, and of other people’s in her pocket. If 
you ask for the butter at the table, you’re never 
sure she won’t strike an attitude, and chant: 

“ ‘ Butter, Butter, Oh, good-by! 

Better butter ne’er did — er — fly.* ** 

“ I think I should like to see this young person,” 
observed Mrs. Kennedy, when the laughter at 
Tilly’s sally had subsided. 

“ Maybe you will sometime. She wants to go 
East,” rejoined Tilly. 

“She does? What for?” 

“ Principally to see Paul Revere’s grave, I be- 
lieve; incidentally to go to school.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


169 


‘‘ Oh, I wish she could come East to school ! ” ex- 
claimed Genevieve. 

“ So do I — if she’d come to Sunbridge,” laughed 
Tilly. “ She takes things even more literally than 
Cordelia does. Sometime I’m going to tell her the 
moon is made of green cheese, and ask her if she 
doesn’t want a piece. Ten to one if she won’t an- 
swer that she doesn’t care for cheese, thank you. 
Oh, I wouldn’t ask to go to another show for a 
whole year if she should come to Sunbridge ! ” 

“Tilly! I don’t think you ought to talk like 
that,” remonstrated Cordelia. “ One would think 
that Quentina was a — a vaudeville show.” 

Tilly considered this gravely. 

“ Why, Cordelia, do you know? — I believe that 
is just what she is. Thank you so much for think- 
ing of it.” 

“ Tilly 1 ” gasped Cordelia, horrified. 

Genevieve frowned. 

“ Honestly, Tilly, I don’t think you are quite 
fair,” she demurred. “ Quentina isn’t one bit of 
a show. She’s sweet and dear and lovely, with 
just some funny ways to make her specially inter- 
esting.” 

“All right; we’ll let it go at that, then,” re- 
torted Tilly, merrily. “ She’s just specially inter- 
esting.” 

“ She must be,” smiled Mrs. Kennedy. “ In fact, 
I should very much like to see her, and — I don’t 


170 


SIX STAR RANCH 


believe Tilly means her comments to be quite so 
unkind as perhaps they sound,” she finished with a 
gentle emphasis that was not lost on her young 
audience. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


171 


CHAPTER XIII 

THE PRAIRIE AND MOONLIGHT 

One by on? the long, happy July days slipped 
away. There was no lack of amusement, no time 
that hung heavy — there was so much to be seen, 
so much to be done ! 

Very soon after the trip to Quentina’s home, Mr. 
Tim produced from somewhere five 'stout little 
ponies, warranted to be broken to skirts — 
which Genevieve had said would be absolutely nec- 
essary, as the girls would never consent to ride 
astride. 

It was a nervous morning, however, for five of 
the Happy Hexagons when the horses were led up 
to the door. Cordelia was frankly white-faced and 
trembling. Even Tilly looked a little doubtful, as 
she said, trying to speak with her usual lightness : 

Oh, we know, of course, Genevieve, that these 
little beasts won’t teeter up and down like Reddy’s 
broncho; and we hope they’ll bear in mind that 
Westerners ought to be politely gentle with East- 
erners, who aren’t brought up to ride jumping jacks. 
But still, we can’t help wondering.” 

** Genevieve, I — I really think I won’t ride at 


172 


SIX STAR RANCH 


all to-day,” stammered Cordelia, faintly; “that is, 
if you don’t mind.” 

“ But I do mind,” rejoined Genevieve, looking 
much distressed. “ Of course, girls, I wouldn’t 
urge you against your will, for the world; but we 
can’t have half the fun here unless you ride, for we 
go everywhere, ’most, in the saddle. And, honestly, 
Mr. Tim says these horses are regular cows. 
Father told him he must get steady ones. Won’t 
you please — try it ? It will break my heart, if you 
don’t. You see I’ve said so much to the boys, since 
I came, about your riding ! They were so surprised 
to think you could ride, and I was so proud to say 
you did ! ” 

“ You — you were? ” stammered Cordelia. 

• “ Yes.” 

“ Well, young ladies,” called Mr. Tim, at that 
moment, “ here’s the steadiest little string of horses 
going ! Who’ll have the first pick ? ” 

“ I will,” cried Cordelia, wetting her dry lips, and 
speaking with a stern determination that yet did not 
quite hide the shake in her voice. “ That is — I 
don’t care about my pick, but I’m going to ride — 
right away — quick ! ” she finished, determined that 
at least Genevieve should not be ashamed — of 
her. 

After all, it was only the first five minutes that 
were hard. The little horses were politeness itself, 
and seemed fully to realize the responsibilities of 


SIX STAR RANCH 173 


their position. The girls, determined not to shame 
Genevieve, acquitted themselves with a grace and 
ease that brought forth an appreciative cheer from 
the boys as the young people rode away. 

“ Now I feel as if I were in Texas,” exulted 
Tilly, drawing in a full breath of the fresh, early 
morning air. 

‘‘ I’m so glad — so glad we’re all in Texas,” cried 
Genevieve, looking about her with shining eyes. 

According to Tilly, there was always “ something 
doing ” at the ranch house. The boys — much to 
their own surprise, it must be confessed — had 
adopted “ the whole bunch ” (as Long John called 
the young people), and were never too busy or too 
tired to display their skill as ropers or riders. Al- 
ways there was the fascinating morning start to 
work to watch, and frequently there was in the 
afternoon some wild little broncho that needed to 
be broken to the saddle, or to be trained to stop, 
wheel instantly, stand motionless, or to start at top 
speed, according to his master’s wishes; all of 
which was a never-ending source of delight to un- 
accustomed Eastern eyes. 

For pleasant days there were, too, rides, drives 
to Bolo, picnic luncheons, and frolics of every sort. 
For rainy days there were games and music in the 
living room, to say nothing of letters from home to 
be read and answered. Most of the twilights — 


174 


SIX STAR RANCH 


if fair — were spent by everybody on the front 
gallery watching the golden ball in the west set the 
whole prairie, as well as the sky itself, on fire. In 
the early afternoon, of course, there was the in- 
evitable siesta — Tilly’s abhorred ‘‘ naps.” 

There were callers at the ranch house, too. 
Sometimes a cowboy from a neighboring ranch 
came to look after a lost pony, or to see if his cattle 
had strayed off the range through a broken fence. 
Sometimes a hunter or trapper would stop for a 
chat on his way to or from Bolo. Once Susie 
Billings in her khaki suit and cowboy hat came to 
spend the day; and once, on Sunday, Mr. Jones 
came to hold service again. Much to the girls’ dis- 
appointment, Quentina did not come with him. 
The mother’s foot was better, Mr. Jones said, but 
the twins had come down with the whooping cough, 
and poor Quentina could not be spared to leave 
home. 

Sometimes a score of men and teams and cow- 
boys with their strings of horses would pass on their 
way to a round-up; and once two huge prairie 
schooners “ docked in the yard,” as Tilly termed 
it; and their weary owners, at Mr. Hartley’s in- 
vitation, stopped for a night’s rest. 

That was, indeed, a time of great excitement for 
the Happy Hexagons, for under Genevieve’s fear- 
less leadership they promptly made friends with the 
sallow-faced women and the forlorn children, and 


SIX STAR RANCH 


175 


soon were shown the mysteries of the inside of the 
wagon-homes. 

“Mercy! it looks just like play housekeeping; 
doesn’t it? ” gurgled Tilly. 

“ But it isn’t play at all, my dear,” replied one 
of the women, a little sadly. “ Seems now like as 
if I ever had a home again what stayed put, that 
I’d be happy, no matter where ’twas. Ain’t that 
the way you feel, Mis’ Higgins ? ” 

“ Yes,” nodded the other woman, dully, from 
her perch on the driver’s seat. “ But I reckon my 
man ain’t never goin’ ter quit wheelin’, now.” 

Even Genevieve seemed scarcely to know what 
to reply to this; but a few minutes later she had 
succeeded in gaining the confidence of the several 
children hanging about their mothers’ skirts. 
Laughingly, then, the young people trooped away 
together to look at the flowers — all but Cordelia 
Wilson. Cordelia remained behind with the two 
women. 

“ Please — I beg your pardon — but did you say 
your name was * Mrs. Higgins ’ ? ” she asked 
eagerly, turning to the woman on the driver’s 
seat. 

“ Why, no — I didn’t. Miss. But that’s my 
name.” 

“Yes, I know; ’twas the other lady who called 
you that, of course; but it doesn’t matter, so long 
as I know ’tis that.” 


176 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“Oh, don’t it?” murmured the woman, a little 
curiously. 

“No; and — you came from New Hampshire, 
once, didn’t you? ” 

An odd look crossed the woman’s face. 

“ Well, I ain’t sayin’ that.” 

“ But you did — please say that you did,” begged 
Cordelia. “ You see. I’m so anxious to find you! ” 

A look that was almost terror came to the 
woman’s eyes now. 

“ I don’t know nothin’ what you’re talkin’ about, 
and I don’t want to know, neither,” she finished 
coldly, turning squarely around in her seat. 

Cordelia hesitated; then she stammered: 

“ If — if you think it’s because your mother will 
scold you, I can assure you that she will not. She 
is very anxious to hear from you — that’s all. She’s 
been so worried ! She wants to know if you’re do- 
ing well, and all that.” 

“ What are you talking about ? ” demanded the 
woman, turning sharply back to Cordelia. 

“ Your — mother.” 

“ My mother is — dead. Miss.” 

“Oh-h!” gasped Cordelia. “You mean you 
aren't Mrs. Lizzie Higgins — she that was Lizzie 
Snow of Sunbridge, New Hampshire, who eloped 
with Mr. Higgins and ran away to Texas years 
ago?” 

The woman laughed. Her face cleared. What- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


177 


ever it was that she had feared — she evidently 
feared it no longer. 

‘‘ No, Miss. My name isn’t ‘ Lizzie,’ and it 
wa’n’t * Snow,’ and I never heard of Sunbridge, 
New Hampshire.” 

‘‘ O dear ! ” quavered Cordelia. “ Mrs. Snow 
will be so sorry — that is, of course she’ll be glad, 
too ; for you aren’t — ” With a little gasp of dis- 
may Cordelia pulled herself up before the words 
were uttered, but not before their meaning was 
quite clear to the woman. 

Oh, yes, she’ll be glad, too, no doubt,” she cut 
in bitterly; because I’m not exactly what a woman 
would want for a lost daughter, now, am I ? ” 

Cordelia blushed painfully. 

“ Oh, please, please don’t talk like that ! I am 
sure Mrs. Snow would be glad to find any one for 
a daughter — she wants her so ! And she’s her — 
mother, you know.” 

The woman’s face softened. 

All right,” she smiled, a little bitterly. If I 
find her I’ll send her to you.” 

“ Oh, will you ? Thank you so much,” cried 
Cordelia. And there are some others, too, that 
I’m hunting for. Maybe you can find them — trav- 
eling around so much as you do. If you’ve got a 
little piece of paper and a pencil. I’ll just write them 
down, please.” 

Thus it happened that when the prairie schooners 


178 SIX STAR RANCH 


“ sailed away ” (again to quote Tilly), one of them 
carried a bit of paper on which had been written 
full instructions how to proceed should the wife 
of its owner ever run across John Sanborn, Lizzie 
Higgins, Lester Goodwin, or James Hunt. 

It was soon after this that the Happy Hexagons 
and Mr. Tim, returning on horseback from a long 
day on the range, met with a delay that would 
prevent their reaching the ranch house until some 
time after dark. 

“ Oh, goody ! I don’t care a bit,” chuckled Gene- 
vieve, when she realized the facts of the case. 

There is a perfectly glorious moon, and now you 
can see the prairie by moonlight. And you never 
really have seen the prairie until you do see it by 
moonlight, you know ! ” 

“ But we have seen it by moonlight — right from 
your steps,” cried Tilly. 

Oh, but not the same as it will be out here — 
away from the ranch house,” cried Genevieve. 

You just wait! You’ll see.” 

And they did wait. And they did see. 

It did seem, indeed, that they never before had 
really seen the prairie; they all agreed to that, as 
they gazed in awed delight at the vast, silvery won- 
der all about them, some time later. 

“ Why, it looks more than ever like the ocean,” 
cried Bertha. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


179 


“ That grass over there actually ripples like 
water in the moonlight,” declared Elsie. 

‘‘ I didn’t suppose anything could be so beauti- 
ful,” breathed Cordelia. But, Genevieve, won’t 
Mrs. Kennedy be dreadfully worried, at our beingf 
so late ? ” 

Genevieve gave a sigh. 

Yes, I’m afraid so,” she admitted. “ Still, she 
has Father to comfort her, and he’ll remind her that 
Mr. Tim is with us, and that delays are always hap- 
pening on a day’s run like ours.” 

“ I wish she could see this beautiful sight herself,” 
cried Alma. She wouldn’t blame us, then, for 
going wild over it and not minding if we are a little 
hungry.” 

Tilly, for once, was silent. 

‘‘Well?” questioned Genevieve, after a time, 
riding up to her side. 

“ I don’t know any one — only Quentina — who 
could do justice to it,” breathed Tilly. And, to 
Genevieve’s amazement, the moonlight showed a 
tear on Tilly’s cheek. 

There was a long minute of silence. The 
moon was very bright, yet the many swift-flying 
clouds brought moments of soft darkness, and 
cast weird shadows across the far-reaching 
prairie. 

“ I think I smell a storm coming — sometime,” 
sniffed Mr. Tim, his face to the wind. 


180 SIX STAR RANCH 


Wouldn’t it be lovely to have it come while we 
were out here,” gurgled Tilly. 

“Hardly!” rejoined Mr. Tim with emphasis. 
“ I reckon you needn’t worry about that storm for 
some hours yet. I’ll have you all safely corralled 
long before it breaks — never fear.” 

“ I wasn’t fearing. I was hoping,” retorted Tilly 
in a voice that brought a chuckle to the man’s lips. 

A moment later Mr. Tim stopped his horse and 
pointed to the right. 

“ Do you see that black shadow over there ? ” he 
asked Bertha Brown, who was nearest him. 

“Yes. From a cloud, isn’t it?” Bertha, too, 
stopped to look. 

“ I think not. It’s a bunch of cattle, I reckon. 
I think I make out the guards riding round them.” 

“What is it, Mr. Tim?” Genevieve and the 
other girls had caught up with them now. 

“ Cattle — over there. See ? ” explained Mr. 
Tim, briefly. 

At that moment the moon came out unusually 
clear. 

“ I can see two men on horseback, passing each 
other,” cried Bertha. 

Mr. Tim nodded. 

“Yes — the guard. They ride around the bunch 
in opposite ways, you know.” 

“ Let’s go nearer ! I want to see,” proposed Tilly, 
trying to quiet the restless movements of her pony. 



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SIX STAR RANCH 181 


The man shook his head. 

I reckon not, Miss Tilly. A stampede ain’t 
what I’m looking for to amuse you all to-night.” 

“ What’s a stampede? ” asked Tilly. 

“Mr. Tim, look — quick!” Genevieve’s voice 
was urgent, a little frightened. But the man had 
not needed that. With a sharp word behind his 
teeth, he spurred his horse. 

“ Follow me — quick 1 ” he ordered. And with a 
frightened cry they obeyed. 

Genevieve obeyed, too — but she looked back 
over her shoulder. 

The moon was very bright now. The black 
shadow to the right had become a wedge-shaped, 
compact, seething mass, sweeping rapidly toward 
them. There was a rushing swish in the air, and 
the sound of hoarse shouts. A few moments later 
the maddened beasts swept across their path, well 
to the rear. 

“ I’ll answer your question, now. Miss Tilly,” 
said Mr. Tim, as they reined in their horses and 
looked backward at the shadowy mass. “ That was 
a stampede.” 

“ But what will they do with them ? ” chattered 
Cordelia, with white lips. “ How can they ever 
stop them ? ” 

“ Oh, they’ll head them off — get them to run- 
ning in a circle, probably, till they can quiet them 
and make them lie down again.” 


182 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“And will they be all right — then?” shivered 
Elsie. 

“ Hm-m; yes,” nodded Mr. Tim, “ — till the 
next thing sets them going. Then they’ll be again 
on their feet, every last one of them — heads and 
tails erect. Oh, they’re a pretty sight then — they 
are ! ” 

“ They must be,” remarked Tilly. “ Still — 
well, I sha’n’t ask you again what a stampede is — 
not to-night.” 

Mr. Tim laughed. 

“ Well, Miss Tilly, ’tain’t likely I could show you 
one if you did. I don’t always keep ’em so handy ! 
And now I reckon we’d better hit the trail for the 
Six Star, and be right lively about it, too,” he added, 
“ or we’ll be having Mis’ Kennedy out here herself 
on a broncho after ye ! ” 

Half an hour later a white-faced, teary-eyed little 
woman at the Six Star Ranch was trying to get her 
joyful arms around six girls at once. 

It was the next morning, and just before Mr. 
Tim’s predicted storm broke, that the girls found 
the injured man almost hidden in the tall grass near 
the ranch house. They had gone out for a short 
ride, but had kept near shelter owing to the threaten- 
ing sky. Tilly saw the man first. 

“ Genevieve, there’s a man down there,” she cried 
softly. “ He’s hurt, I think.” 

Genevieve was off her horse at once. The man 


SIX STAR RANCH 


183 


was found to be breathing, but apparently uncon- 
scious. He lay twisted in a little huddled heap, 
with one of his legs bent under him. He groaned 
faintly when Genevieve spoke to him. 

Genevieve was a little white when she straight- 
ened up. 

I think we’ll have to get a wagon, or some- 
thing, and two of the boys,” she said. “ I’ll ride 
back to the house if some of you girls will stay 
here.” 

We’ll all stay,” promised Cordelia; only be 
quick,” she added, slipping from her pony’s back, 
and giving the reins to Bertha. “ Maybe if I could 
hold his poor head he’d be more comfortable.” 

Cautiously she sat down on the ground and lifted 
the man’s head to her lap. He groaned again 
faintly, and opened his eyes. They were large and 
dark. For a moment there was only pain in their 
depths; then, gradually, there came a look of pro- 
found amazement. 

Where am I ? ” he asked feebly. 

‘‘ Shf Don’t talk. You are on the prairie. You 
must have got hurt, some way.” 

He tried to move, and groaned again. 

Please be still,” begged Cordelia. '' You’ll 
make things worse. We’ve sent for help, and they’ll 
be here right away.” 

The man closed his eyes now. He did not speak 
again. 


184 


SIX STAR RANCH 


It seemed a long time, but it was really a very 
short one, before Genevieve came with Carlos and 
Pedro and one of the ranch wagons. The man 
groaned again, and grew frightfully white when 
they lifted him carefully into the wagon. Then he 
fainted. He was still unconscious when they 
reached the ranch house. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


185 


CHAPTER XIV 

A MAN AND A MYSTERY 

August came. The first few days of the month 
were particularly busy ones as some of the boys 
were off to a round-up on the fifth, and Mr. Hart- 
ley was going with them for a week. To the girls 
the big four-horse wagon for the food and bedding 
— the ‘‘ wheeled house that was to be home for 
the boys — was always an object of great interest. 
Then there was the excitement of the start on the 
day itself, which this time was made particularly 
momentous by the going of Mr. Hartley. 

The ranch house seemed very lonely without its 
genial, generous-hearted owner, and everybody was 
glad that he had promised to come back in a week. 
Meanwhile, of course, there was “ the man.’’ 

The man was he who had been found by the girls 
in the prairie grass. He was still almost as much 
of a mystery as ever. Mr. Hartley had insisted 
upon his staying — and, indeed (though no bones 
were broken), he was quite too badly injured to be 
moved for a time. He was able now to sit in the 
big comfortable chairs on the back gallery; and he 
spent hours there every day, sometimes reading, 


186 SIX STAR RANCH 


more often sitting motionless, with his dark eyes 
closed, and his hands resting on his crutches by his 
side. 

He had not seemed to care to talk of himself. 
He had merely said that his horse had thrown him, 
and that he had lain in the grass for some time be- 
fore he was found. He was quiet, had good man- 
ners, and used good language. He said that his 
name was John Edwards. He seemed deeply grate- 
ful for all kindness shown him, but was plainly anx- 
ious to be well enough to be on his way again. Mr. 
Hartley, however, had won his promise to remain 
till he himself returned from the round-up. 

All the young people did their best to make the 
injured man’s time pass as pleasantly as possible; 
and very often one or another of them might be 
found reading to him, or playing a game of checkers 
or chess with him. 

It was on such an occasion that Cordelia Wilson, 
at the conclusion of a game of checkers, found the 
courage to say something that had long been on 
her mind. 

“ Mr. Edwards, do — do you know Texas very 
well ? ” 

The man smiled a little. 

Well, Miss Cordelia, Texas is rather large, you 
know.” 

Cordelia sighed almost impatiently. 

“ Dear me ! I — I wish every one wouldn’t al- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


187 


ways say that,” she lamented. It’s so discourag- 
ing!” 

‘‘ Dis — couraging? ” 

“Yes — when you’re trying to find some one.” 

“ Oh ! And are you trying to find some one ? ” 

“Yes, sir; four some ones.” 

“Well, I should think that might be difficult — 
in Texas, unless you know where they are,” smiled 
the man. 

“I don’t; and that’s what’s the matter,” sighed 
Cordelia. “ That’s why I was going to ask you, to 
see if you didn’t know, perhaps.” 

“ Ask mef^^ 

“Yes. That is, if you had been around any — 
in Texas. You see I ask everybody, almost. I 
have to,” she apologized a little wistfully. “ And 
even then it looks as if I should have to go back to 
Sunbridge without finding one of them. And I’d 
so hate to do that I ” 

The man started visibly. 

“ Go back — where? ” 

“ To Sunbridge.” 

“Sunbridge — ?” 

“ Sunbridge, New Hampshire; home, you know.” 

An odd expression crossed the man’s face. 

“ No — I didn’t know,” he said, after a mo- 
ment. 

“ Why, didn’t any of us ever tell you we were 
from the East?” cried Cordelia. 


188 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Oh, yes, lots of times. But you never hap- 
pened to mention the town before, I think. 

“ Why, how funny ! ” murmured Cordelia. 

The man did not speak. He seemed to have 
fallen into a reverie. Cordelia stirred restlessly in 
her seat. 

“ Did you say you would help me ? ” she asked 
at last, timidly. 

Help you ? ” The man seemed to have forgot- 
ten what she had been speaking of. 

** Help me to find them, you know — those 
people I’m looking for.” 

Why, of course,” laughed the man, easily. 

Who are — ” He stopped abruptly. For the 
second time an odd expression crossed his face. 

Are they — Sunbridge people ? ” he asked, stoop- 
ing to pick up a dried leaf from the gal- 
lery floor. 

Yes, Mr. Edwards. There are four of them — 
three men and one woman. They are John San- 
born, Lester Goodwin, James Hunt, and Mrs. Lizzie 
Higgins. Maybe you know some of them. Do 
you ? ” 

Well, Miss Cordelia,” — the man stopped a 
minute, as he reached for a leaf still farther away — 
“ is that quite to be expected ? ” he asked then, 
lightly. 

“ No, I suppose not,” she sighed; ‘‘ for, of course, 
Texas is big. But if you would please just put their 


SIX STAR RANCH 189 


names down on paper same as the others have, that 
would help a great deal.” 

“ Why, certainly,” agreed the man, reaching into 
his pocket and bringing out a little notebook not 
unlike the minister’s. ‘‘ Now suppose you — you 
give me those names again. Miss Cordelia.” 

“ John Sanborn, Lester Goodwin, James Hunt, 
and Mrs. Lizzie Higgins. And I am Cordelia Wil- 
son, you know. Just ' Sunbridge, New Hampshire,’ 
would reach me — if you found any of them.” 

‘‘ I’ll remember — if I find any of them,” mur- 
mured the man, as he wrote the last name. 

“ And thank you so much ! ” beamed Cordelia. 

There was a moment’s silence. The man was 
playing with his pencil. 

“ Did you say you were asked to find these 
people ? ” he inquired at last, examining the lead 
of his pencil intently. 

Oh, yes, sir.” 

‘‘ Indeed ! And may I inquire who asked 
you ? ” 

‘‘ Why, of course ! The people who belong to 
them — who are so anxious for them to come back, 
you know.” 

Oh, then they want them ? ” The man was 
still examining the point of his pencil. 

'' Indeed they do, Mr. Edwards,” cried Cordelia, 
glad to find her new audience so interested. “ Mrs. 
Lizzie Higgins eloped years ago, and her mother, 


190 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Mrs. Snow, is terribly worried. She’s never heard 
a word from her. Mrs. Granger is a widow, and 
very poor. Her husband died last year. She hasn’t 
any one left but her cousin, Lester Goodwin, now, 
and she so wishes she could find him. Lester’s had 
some money left him, but if he isn’t found this year, 
it’ll go to some one else.” 

“ Oh ! ” The man gave a short little laugh that 
sounded not quite pleasant, as he lifted his head 
suddenly. I begin to see. Mrs. Granger thinks 
if she had Lester, and Lester had the money, why 
she’d get the money, too, eh ? ” 

Oh, no, sir — not exactly,” objected Cordelia. 
“ You see, if he isn't found the money goes to her, 
so she thinks she ought to make a special effort to 
find him. She says she wouldn’t sleep a wink if 
she took all that money without trying to find him ; 
so she asked me. Of course the lawyers are hunt- 
ing, anyway.” 

'' Oh-h ! ” said the man again ; but this time he 
did not laugh. Hm-m ; well — are there any 
fortunes left the other two ? ” he asked, after a 
moment’s silence. He had gone back to his pencil 
point. 

“ Oh, no, sir,” laughed Cordelia, a little ruefully. 

I’m afraid they won’t think so. They're wanted 
to help folks.” 

“ To help folks ! ” 

“Yes, sir. You see John Sanborn’s father is 


SIX STAR RANCH 191 


very poor, and he lives all alone in a little bit 
of a house in the woods. He’s called ' Hermit 
Joe.’ ” 

'‘Yes — go on,” bade the man, as Cordelia 
stopped for breath. The man’s voice was husky — 
perhaps because he had stooped to pick up another 
dried leaf. 

There isn’t much more about him, only he’s 
terribly lonesome and wants his boy, he says. You 
see, the boy ran away years and years ago. I don’t 
think that was very nice of him. Do you ? ” 

There was no answer. The man sat now with 
his hand over his eyes. Cordelia wondered if per- 
haps she had tired him. 

" And that’s all,” she said hurriedly; " only Sally 
Hunt’s brother, James. If he isn’t found she’ll 
have to go to the Poor Farm, I’m afraid.” 

" What?” 

Cordelia started nervously. The man had turned 
upon her so sharply that his crutches fell to the 
floor with a crash. 

" Oh, sir, I beg your pardon,” she apologized, 
springing to her feet. " I’m so afraid you were 
asleep, and I startled you. I — I will go now. And 
— and thank you ever so much for writing down 
those names ! ” 

The man shook his head decidedly. 

" Don’t go,” he begged. " You have not tired 
me, and I like to hear you talk. Now sit down. 


192 SIX STAR RANCH 


please, and tell me all about these people — -this 
James Hunt’s sister, and all the rest.” 

Oh, do you really want to know about them? ” 
cried Cordelia, joyfully. “Then I will tell you; 
for maybe it would help you find them, you know.” 

“ Yes, maybe it would,” agreed the man, in a 
curiously vibrant voice, as Cordelia seated herself 
again at his side. “ Now talk.” 

And Cordelia talked. She talked not only then, 
but several times after that, and she talked always 
of Sunbridge. Mr. Edwards seemed so interested 
in everything and everybody there, though specially, 
of course, in the relatives of the four lost people 
she was trying to find — which was natural, cer- 
tainly, thought Cordelia, inasmuch as he, too, was 
going to search for them in the weeks to come. 

Mr. Edwards improved in health very rapidly 
these days. He discarded his crutches, and seemed 
feverishly anxious to test his strength on every oc- 
casion. Upon Mr. Hartley’s return from the 
round-up, the injured man insisted that he was 
quite well enough to go away; and, in spite of the 
kind ranchman’s protests, he did go the next day 
after Mr. Hartley’s return. Carlos drove him to 
Bolo, and the Happy Hexagons stood on the ranch- 
house steps and gave him their Texas yell as a 
send-off, substituting a lusty “ MR. EDWARDS ” 
for Genevieve’s name at the end. 

“ That is the most convenient yell,” chuckled 


SIX STAR RANCH 


193 


Tilly, as the ranch wagon with Carlos and Mr. Ed- 
wards drove away. '' It’ll do for anything and 
anybody. And didn’t Mr. Edwards like it ! ” 

“Of course he did ! He couldn’t help it,” cried 
Genevieve. 

“ I think Mr. Edwards is a very nice man,” ob- 
served Cordelia, with emphasis, “ and I wish he 
could have stayed for the party.” 

“ Why, of course he’s a nice man,” chimed in 
the other girls, eyeing her earnest face a little curi- 
ously. 

“Who said he wasn’t?” laughed Tilly. “My! 
but it is hot, isn’t it ? ” she added, dropping into one 
of the big wicker chairs near her. 

“ Oh, of course we have to have some warm 
weather,” bridled Genevieve, “ else you’d be home- 
sick for New Hampshire!” 

“ The mean annual temperature of the country 
near — ” began Tilly, mischievously; but Gene- 
vieve put her hands to her ears and fled. 

The fourteenth of August was to be a gala occa- 
sion at the Six Star Ranch, for there was to be a 
supper and dance to entertain the friends from the 
East. 

“ But where’ll you get your guests?” demanded 
Tilly, when she first heard of the plan. “ Whom 
can you have, ’way off here like this? — all will 
please take notice that I said ^whom^!^* 


194 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Genevieve laughed and tossed her head a little. 

Well, we’ll have the boys here on the ranch, of 
course, and Susie Billings, and some of the other 
Bolo girls. We can’t have Quentina, of course — 
Poor thing! Isn’t it a shame about that ^ whooping 
cough ? — and Ned’s got it, too, now, you know I — 
but I think the Boyntons will come. Their ranch 
is only thirty-five miles away, and they could stay 
all night, of course.” 

“ Only thirty-five miles away,” repeated Tilly, 
airily. Of course nobody’d mind a little thing 
like that, for a party 1 ” 

No, they wouldn’t — in Texas,” retorted Gene- 
vieve. “ There’s the Wetherbys, too. They live 
five miles out from Bolo on the other side. Maybe 
they’ll come. We’ll ask them, anyhow. Oh, we’ll 
have a party — never you fear ! ” 

When the night of the fourteenth arrived, things 
looked, indeed, very like “ a party.” Everywhere 
were confusion and excitement, even to the saddle 
room and blacksmith’s shop, and to the two big 
tents that were being put up for extra sleeping 
quarters. Everywhere, too (Mrs. Kennedy de- 
clared), were dishes heaped with chocolate candies. 
Mr. Edwards, who had left the ranch only the day 
before, had sent back by Carlos twenty-five pounds 
of the best candy Bolo could supply; and the girls 
had been lavish in its disposal. 

Five Wetherbys and six Boyntons had arrived 


SIX STAR RANCH 


195 


together with a dozen cowboys on horseback. Susie 
Billings, minus her khaki and cartridges, looked the 
picture of demureness in white muslin and baby- 
blue ribbons. There were other pretty girls, too, 
from Bolo, in white, and in pale pink and yellow. 
And everywhere were the Happy Hexagons, wildly 
excited, and delighted with it all. 

The big hall and the living-room had been cleared 
for dancing. The galleries and the long covered 
way leading to the dining-room had been decorated 
with flowers and lanterns. The long table in the 
dining-room was decorated, too, and would later be 
loaded with all sorts of good things : sandwiches, 
hot biscuits, tamales, cakes, and black coffee without 
sugar. In the center of the table already there was 
a huge round white something that called forth de- 
lighted clappings from the Happy Hexagons as they 
flocked in at seven o’clock to look at the table deco- 
rations. 

Oh, wlhat a lovely cake,” gurgled Tilly, “ and 
such a big one ! ” 

Genevieve laughed mischievously. 

“ I’ll give you the whole cake — if you’ll cut it,” 
she proposed. 

With manifest alacrity Tilly reached for a knife. 

** Done ! ” she cried. 

Before the knife descended, Genevieve caught her 
hand. 

Wait ! Look here,” she parleyed. Taking the 


196 


SIX STAR RANCH 


knife, she thrust its point through the elaborate 
white frosting, with two or three gentle taps. 

Why, it’s hard ! — hard as stone,” ejaculated 
Tilly, trying for herself. 

‘‘ It is stone,” laughed Genevieve. 

Stone ! ” cried a chorus of unbelieving voices. 

‘‘ Yes, stone — frosted with sugar and the whites 
of eggs. Oh, if you’d lived in Texas as long as I 
have you’d have seen them before,” nodded Gene- 
vieve. 

‘‘ Well, I’ve got my opinion of Texas cakes, 
then,” pouted Tilly, with saucy impertinence. 

“ Oh, you’ll change it later, I reckon — when 
you see the real ones,” rejoined Genevieve, com- 
fortably, as they left the dining-room. 

There never had been, surely, such a party. All 
the Happy Hexagons agreed to that. So, too, did 
all the guests. Perhaps on no one’s face was there 
a look of anxious care except on Cordelia’s. Pos- 
sibly Mr. Hartley noticed this look. At all events 
he watched Cordelia rather closely, as the evening 
advanced, particularly after he chanced to overhear 
some of her remarks to his guests. Then he sought 
his daughter. 

‘‘ Dearie,” he began in a low voice, leading her a 
little to one side, “ what in the world ails that little 
Miss Cordelia? ” 

“ Ails her! What do you mean? Is she sick? ” 

‘‘ No, I don’t think so; but she looks as if she’d 


SIX STAR RANCH 


197 


got the weight of the whole outfit on her shoulders, 
and she seems to be going ’round asking everybody 
if they knew John somebody, or Lizzie somebody 
else.” 

Genevieve laughed merrily; but almost at once 
she frowned and shook her head. 

“No, I don’t know. Father, what is the matter. 
But Cordelia is capable of — anything, if once her 
conscience is stirred. Why don’t you ask her your- 
self?” 

“ I believe I will, dearie,” he asserted at last. 

Five minutes later he chanced to find Cordelia 
without a partner. 

“ Miss Cordelia, will you accept an old man for 
this dance ? ” he asked genially. “ And shall we 
sit it out, perhaps ? ” 

“ Oh, thank you ! Fd love to,” cried Cordelia in 
a relieved voice. “ And I shall be so glad to 
rest ! ” 

“ Tired — dancing? ” he asked. 

“ Oh, no, not dancing ; that is — well — ” She 
stopped, and colored painfully. 

Mr. Hartley waited a moment, then observed with 
a smile : 

“ You seem to be looking for some one to-night. 
Miss Cordelia. Didn’t I hear you asking Mr. Boyn- 
ton and Joe Wetherby if they knew John somebody 
or other? ” 

Again a pink flush spread over Cordelia’s face. 


198 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“Yes, sir; I am looking for somebody — four 
somebodies.” 

“ You don’t say! Found them yet? ” 

She shook her head. To the man’s surprise and 
distress, her eyes filled with tears. 

“ No, Mr. Hartley, and that’s what’s the trouble. 
That’s why I’m trying so hard to-night to ask all 
these people — there’s sucTi a little time left I ” 

“ Time — left?” 

“ Yes. I’d like to tell you about it, please. I 
think I may tell you. Of course I haven’t said a 
word to the girls, because the people — back in Sun- 
bridge — didn’t want me to talk about it. I’m look- 
ing for John Sanborn, Lester Goodwin, James Hunt, 
and Mrs. Lizzie Higgins. They’re all Sunbridge 
people who came to Texas years ago, and are 
lost.” 

Mr. Hartley gave a sudden exclamation. 

“ Did you say — Lester Goodwin was one ? ” he 
asked. 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ Who wants him, and what for? ” 

Patiently Cordelia told him. She wore a hope- 
less air. She had ceased, evidently, to expect any- 
thing that was good. 

Mr. Hartley gave a low whistle. For a moment 
he was silent, then he chuckled unexpectedly. 

“ Well, Miss Cordelia, if you hadn’t looked so 
far away for your pony you might have seen his 


SIX STAR RANCH 199 


tracks nearer home, perhaps. As it happens, Les- 
ter Goodwin is right here on the ranch.'’ 

‘‘ Here ? Lester Goodwin ? " gasped Cordelia. 

“ Yes. Oh, he isn’t known by that name — he 
preferred not to be. He came to me fourteen years 
ago, and he’s been here ever since. He said he 
wanted to be a cowboy; that he’d always wanted 
to be one ever since when, as a little boy, he used 
to rope his rocking-horse with his mother’s clothes- 
line. His uncle had wanted him to be a teacher, 
but he hated the sight of books; so when his uncle 
died, he ran away and came here. He said there 
wasn’t anybody to care where he was, or what he 
did; so I let him stay.” 

‘‘ And to think he’s here now ! ” 

He certainly is. You see he came here because 
he knew me once a little when I was in Sunbridge 
visiting relatives, years ago, and he knew I had be- 
come a ranchman in Texas. He begged so hard 
that I should keep his secret that I’ve always kept 
it. Besides, there was nothing to keep. Nobody 
ever asked me, or suspected he was here.” 

‘‘ Why, how strange ! ” breathed Cordelia, with 
shining eyes. “ And only think how I’ve asked 
everybody but you — and now I’ve found one of 
them right here ! ” 

“Yes — though we mustn’t be too sure, of 
course. We’ll tell him; but maybe he won’t want 
to go back, even now. I reckon, however, that 


200 SIX STAR RANCH 


when he hears of the money, Reddy won’t mind 
,his real name being known.” 

“ Reddy ! ” cried Cordelia. 

“ Oh ! — I didn’t tell you, did I ? ” smiled Mr. 
Hartley. Yes, Reddy is Lester Goodwin.” 

‘‘ Why, Mr. Hartley ! And I never thought of 
such a thing as asking him! I only looked for the 
cowboys who were called ‘ John ’ or ‘ James,’ or 
‘ Lester ’ — and there weren’t many of those. And' 
so it’s Reddy — why, I just can’t believe it’s true! ” 
“ I reckon Reddy can’t, either,” laughed Mr. 
Hartley. And now we’ll let you go back to your 
dancing, my dear. I’ve already encountered at least 
four pairs of glowering eyes unpleasantly pointed 
in my direction. I’ll go and find Reddy — or 
rather, Mr. Lester Goodwin,” he finished impres- 
sively, as he rose to his feet. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


201 


CHAPTER XV 

THE ALAMO 

Two days after the party at the ranch house, 
Mr. Hartley made a wonderful announcement at 
the dinner table. 

What do you say, young ladies, to a visit to 
San Antonio ? ” he began. 

“ Father, could we ? Do you mean we can ? 
cried Genevieve. 

‘‘ Yes, dear, that’s just what I mean. It so hap- 
pens Fve got business there, so I’m going to take 
you home ’round by that way. We’ll have maybe 
a couple of days there, and we’ll see something of 
the surrounding country, besides. You know 
Texas is quite a state — and you’ve seen mighty 
little of it, as yet.” 

“Oh, girls, we’ll see the Alamo!” cried Gene- 
vieve. “ Did you realize that ? ” 

“Will we, truly?” chorused several rapturous 
voices. 

“ Yes.” 

“ And what do you know about the Alapio, 
young ladies?” smiled Mr. Hartley. 

“We know everything,” answered Tilly, cheer- 


202 


SIX STAR RANCH 


fully. “ Mr. Jones’s daughter, you know, was our 
Latin teacher, and she had the History class, too. 
Well, we couldn’t even think Bunker Hill but what 
she’d pipe up about the Alamo. Now I think Bun- 
ker Hill is pretty good ! ” 

‘‘Oh, but we want to see the Alamo, just the 
same,” interposed Bertha, anxiously. 

“ Of course ! ” cried five emphatic girlish voices. 

“All right,” laughed Mr. Hartley. “You shall 
see it, all of you — if the train will take us there; 
and you’ll see — well, you’ll see a lot of other 
things, too.” 

Cordelia stirred uneasily. The old anxious look 
came back to her eyes. When dinner was over she 
stole to Mr. Hartley’s side. 

“ Mr. Hartley, please, shall we see an oil well ? ” 
she asked, in a low voice. 

“ Bless you, little lady, what do you know about 
oil wells?” smiled the man, good-naturedly. 
“ You haven’t got any of those to look up, have 
you?” 

To his dumbfounded amazement, she answered 
simply: 

“Yes, sir — one.” 

“Well, I’ll be — well, just what is this proposi- 
tion ? ” he broke off whimsically. 

“ If you’ll wait — just a minute — I’ll get the 
paper,” panted Cordelia. “ Mr. Hodges wrote 
down the name.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


20S 


Very soon she had returned with the paper, and 
Mr. Hartley saw the name. His face hardened, yet 
his eyes were curiously tender. 

“ I’m afraid, little girl, that this won’t come out 
quite so well as the Reddy affair — by the way, 
Reddy left an extra good-by for you this morn- 
ing. He went away before you were up, you 
know. He feels pretty grateful to you, Miss 
Cordelia.” 

'' But I didn’t do anything, Mr. Hartley. I do 
wish I could see Mrs. Granger when he gets there, 
though. I — I’m afraid she doesn’t like cowboys 
much better than Mrs. Miller does.” 

There was a moment’s silence. Mr. Hartley was 
scowling at the bit of paper in his hand. 

“ Did you say you didn't know where that oil 
well was, Mr. Hartley ? ” asked Cordelia, timidly. 

Yes. I don’t know where it is — and I reckon 
there doesn’t anybody else know, either,” he an- 
swered slowly. ‘‘ I know where it claims to be, 
and I know it is just one big swindle from begin- 
ning to end.” 

Oh, I’m so sorry,” sighed the girl. 

“ So am I, my dear. I’m sorry for Mr. Hodges, 
and lots of others that I know lost money in the 
same thing. But it can’t be helped now.” 

“ Then there aren’t any oil wells here at all in 
Texas?” asked Cordelia, tearfully. 

‘‘Bless you, yes, child — heaps of them! You’ll 


204 


SIX STAR RANCH 


see them, too, probably, before you leave the state. 
But — you won’t see this one.” 

Oh, I’m so sorry,” mourned Cordelia, again, 
as sadly she took the bit of paper back to her room. 

It was not many days before the Happy Hexa- 
gons said good-by to the ranch — a most reluctant 
good-by. It was a question, however, which felt 
the worst: Mammy Lindy, weeping on the gallery 
steps, Mr. Tim and the boys, waving a noisy 
good-by from their saddles, or Mrs. Kennedy and 
the Happy Hexagons — the latter tearfully giving 
their Texas yell with “ THE RANCH ” for the 
final word to-day. 

“ I think I never had such a good time in all my 
life,” breathed Cordelia. 

“ I know I never did,” choked Tilly. ** Gene- 
vieve, we can’t ever begin to thank you for it 
all!” 

‘'I — I don’t want you to,” wailed Genevieve, 
dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. “ I 
reckon you haven’t had any better time than I 
have I ” 

Quentina was at the Bolo station; so, too, was 
Susie Billings. 

'' O Happy Hexagons, Happy Hexagons, I just 
had to come ” chanted Quentina, standing some 
distance away, and extending two restraining 
hands, palms outward. Don’t kiss me — don’t 


SIX STAR RANCH 


205 


come near me! I don’t think I’ve got any whoop- 
ing germs about me, but we want to be on the safe 
side.” 

“ But, Quentina, how are you ? How are all of 
you?” cried Genevieve, plainly distressed. ‘‘I 
think it’s just horrid — staying off at arm’s length 
like this I ” 

‘‘ But you must, dear,” almost sobbed Quentina. 
‘‘ I wouldn’t have you go through what we are going 
through with at home for anything. Such a whoop 
— whoop — whooping time 1 ” 

“ Couldn’t you make a poem on it ? ” bantered 
Tilly. I should think ’twould make a splendid 
subject — you could use such sonorous, resound- 
ing words.” 

Quentina shook her head dismally. 

I couldn’t. I tried it once or twice ; but all I 
could think of was ^ Hark, from the tombs a dole- 
ful sound ’ ; then somebody would cough, and I just 
couldn’t get any further.” Her voice was tragic 
in spite of its drawl. 

You poor thing,” sympathized Genevieve. 

But we — we’re glad to see you, even for this 
little, and even if we can’t feel you! But, Quen- 
tina, you’ll write — sure ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, I’ll write,” nodded Quentina, backing sor- 
rowfully away. Good-by, Happy Hexagons, 
good-by ! ” 

“ So that is your Quentina ? ” said Mr. Hartley 


206 


SIX STAR RANCH 


in a low voice, as the girls were waving their hands 
and handkerchiefs. “ Well, she is pretty.’' 

“ Oh, but she wasn’t half so pretty to-day,” re- 
gretted Genevieve. “ She looked so thin and tired. 
I wanted to introduce you. Father, but I didn’t 
know how to — so far away.” 

“ I should say not,” laughed Mr. Hartley. 

’T would have been worse than your high hand- 
shake back East,” he added, as he turned to speak 
to Susie Billings, who had come up at that moment. 

Susie Billings was in her khaki suit and cowboy 
hat to-day, with the cartridge belt and holster; so, 
as it happened, the last glimpse the girls had of 
Bolo station was made picturesque by a vision of 
“Cordelia’s cowboy” (as Tilly always called 
Susie) waving her broad-brimmed hat. 

The trip to San Antonio was practically unevent- 
ful, though it was certainly one long delight to the 
Happy Hexagons, who never wearied of talking 
about the sights and sounds of the wonderful coun- 
try through which they were passing. 

“Well, this isn’t much like Bolo; is it?” cried 
Tilly, when at last they found themselves in the 
handsome railroad station of the city itself. “ I 
shouldn’t think Texas would know its own self 
half the time — it’s so different from itself all the 
time!” 

“ That’s all right, Tilly, and I think I know what 


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SIX STAR RANCH 207 


you mean/’ laughed Genevieve; ‘'but I Avouldn’t 
advise you to give that sentence to Miss Hart as 
your best example of logic.” 

“Well, I was talking about Texas,” retorted 
Tilly, saucily, “ and there isn’t anything logical 
about Texas, that I can see. There, now — look ! ” 
she added, as they reached the street. “ Just tell 
me if there’s anything logical in that scene ! ” she 
finished, with a wave of her hand toward the pass- 
ing throng. 

Genevieve laughed, but her eyes, too, widened a 
little as she stepped one side with the others, for a 
moment, to watch the curious conglomeration of 
humanity and vehicles before them. 

In the street a luxurious limousine was tooting 
for a ramshackle prairie schooner to turn to one 
side. Behind the automobile plodded a forlorn 
mule dragging a wagon-load of empty boxes. Be- 
hind that came an army ambulance followed by an 
electric truck. A handsome soldier on a restive bay 
mare came next, and behind him a huge touring car 
with a pompous black chauffeur. On either side of 
the touring car rode a grinning boy on a mustang, 
plainly to the discomfort of the pompous negro 
and the delight of two pretty girls in white who 
were in the low phaeton that followed. A bicycle 
bell jangled sharply for a swarthy Mexican in a tall 
peaked hat to get out of the way, and farther down 
the street two solid-looking men in business suits 


^08 


SIX STAR RANCH 


were waiting for a pretty Mexican woman with a 
rebosa-d raped head to precede them into a car. 
Behind them a huge negro woman wearing a red 
bandana about her head, waited her turn. And 
still behind her a severe-faced young woman in a 
tailored suit was drawing her skirts away from two 
almost naked pickaninnies. 

‘‘Well, no; perhaps it isn’t really logical,” 
laughed Genevieve. “ But it’s awfully interest- 
ing! ” 

“ I chose one of the older hotels,” said Mr. Hart- 
ley, a little later, as he piloted his party through 
the doorway of a fine old building. 

“ You couldn’t have chosen a lovelier one. I’m 
sure. Father,” declared Genevieve, as she looked 
about her with shining eyes. 

Genevieve was even more convinced of this when, 
just before dinner, in response to a summons from 
Tilly’s voice she stepped out on to the little balcony 
leading from her room. The balcony overlooked an 
inner court, and was hung with riotous moon-vines. 
Down in the court a silvery fountain played among 
palms and banana trees. Here and there a cactus 
plant thrust spiny arms into the air. Somewhere 
else queen’s wreath and devil’s ivy made a tiny 
bower of loveliness. While everywhere were elec- 
tric lights and roses, matching one against the other 
their brilliant hues. 

“ Genevieve, I — I think I’m going to c-cry,” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


209 


wailed Tilly’s sobbing voice from the adjoining 
balcony. 

Cry ! — when it’.s all so lovely 1 ” exclaimed 
Genevieve. 

Tilly nodded. 

“ Yes. That’s why I want to,” she quavered. 
‘‘ Honestly, Genevieve, if I stay here long I shall be 
writing poetry like Quentina — I know I shall ! ” 

‘Hf you do, just let me read it, that’s all,” re- 
torted Genevieve, saucily. ‘'Where’s Cordelia?” 

“ Off somewhere with Elsie and Bertha. She 
got dressed early — but I sha’n’t get dressed at all 
if I don’t go about it.” 

At that moment there was the sound of a scream, 
then the patter of running feet in the court below. 

“ Why, there they are now,” cried Genevieve, 
leaning over the railing. “ Girls, girls ! ” she called, 
regardless of others in the court. “ Look up here ! 
What’s the matter?” 

The girls stopped, and looked up. Cordelia, only, 
cast an apprehensive glance over her shoulder. 

“ It’s an alligator in the fountain in the other 
court,” explained Elsie. “ Bertha said she heard 
there was one there, and so we went to see — and 
we found out.” 

“ I should say' we did,” shuddered Cordelia, still 
with her head turned backward. “ I sha’n’t sleep 
a wink to-night — I know I sha’n’t!” 

“An alligator — really?” cried Tilly. “Then 


210 


SIX STAR RANCH 


I’m going to hurry and get ready so I can see him 
before dinner,” she finished, as she whisked into 
her room. 

Dinner that night, in the brilliantly lighted, 
flower-decked dining-room was an experience never 
to be forgotten by the girls. 

I didn’t suppose there were such bea-t^-tiful 
dresses in the world,” sighed Elsie, looking about 
her. 

Mr. Hartley smiled. 

“ I reckon you’d think so. Miss Elsie,” he said, 
“if you could see the place when it’s in full swing. 
It’s too early yet for the real tourist season, I imag- 
ine. Anyhow, there aren’t so many people here as 
I’ve always seen before.” 

“ Well, I shouldn’t ask it to be any nicer, any- 
way,” declared Bertha; and the rest certainly 
agreed with her. 

Bright and early the next morning the Happy 
Hexagons and Mr. Hartley started out sight-seeing. 
Mrs. Kennedy was too tired to go, she said. 

“ I’ll let business slip for an hour or two,’” Mr. 
Hartley remarked as they left the hotel ; “ at all 
events, until I get you young people started.” 

“ Hm-m ; you mean, to — the Alamo ? ” hinted 
Genevieve, with merry eyes. 

“Sure, dearie! The Alamo it shall be,” smiled 
her father. “ Then to-morrow I’ll take you to Fort 
Sam Houston where there are live soldiers.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


211 


'' Oh, is there an army post here, truly ? '' cried 
Tilly. 

“ Only the largest in the country,” answered the 
Texan, proudly. 

‘‘Really? Oh, how splendid! I just love sol- 
diers ! ” 

“ Really? ” mimicked Mr. Hartley, mischievously. 
“ They’ll be pleased to know it, Fm sure, Miss 
Tilly.” 

The others laughed. Tilly blushed and shrugged 
her shoulders; but she asked no more questions 
about Fort Sam Houston for at least five min- 
utes. 

“ Now where’s the place — the really, truly 
place ? ” demanded Cordelia, in an awed voice, 
when the party had reached the Alamo Plaza. 

“ The place — the real place, Miss Cordelia,” re- 
plied Mr. Hartley, “ where the fight occurred, was 
in a court over there; and the walls were pulled 
down years ago. But this little chapel was part of 
it, and this is what everybody always looks at and 
talks about. The relics are inside. We’ll go in 
and see them, if you like.” 

“ If we like! ” cried Genevieve, fervently. “ Just 
as if we didn’t want to see everything — every 
single thing there is to see ! ” she finished, as her 
father led the way into the dim interior under the 
watchful eyes of the caretaker. 

Even Tilly, for a moment, was silenced in the 


^12 


SIX STAR RANCH 


hush and somberness of the place. Genevieve stole 
to her father’s side. Mr. Hartley, with bared head, 
was wearing a look of grave reverence. 

‘‘You appreciate it, don’t you. Father?” she 
said softly. “ You have always talked such a lot 
about it.” 

He nodded. 

“ I don’t see how any one can help appreciating 
it,” he rejoined, after a moment, looking up at the 
narrow, iron-barred windows. “ Why, Genevieve, 
this is our Bunker Hill, you know.” 

“ I know,” she said soberly. “ How many was 
it? I’ve forgotten.” 

“ About one hundred and eighty on the inside — 
here ; and all the way from two to six thousand on 
the outside — accounts differ. But it was thou- 
sands, anyway, against one hundred and eighty — 
and it lasted ten days or more.” 

Genevieve shuddered. 

“ And they all — died ? ” 

“ Every one — of the soldiers. There was a 
woman and a young child and a negro servant left 
to tell the tale.” 

“ That’s what it means on the monument, isn’t 
it?” murmured Genevieve. “‘Thermopylae had 
its messenger of defeat : the Alamo had none.’ ” 

“ Yes,” said her father. “ I’ve always wondered 
what Davy Crockett would have said to that. You 
know he was here.” 


SIX STAR RANCH £13 


“ Wasn’t he the one who said, ‘ Be sure you are 
right, then go ahead ’ ? ” 

Yes. And he went ahead — straight to his 
death, here.” 

Genevieve’s eyes brimmed with tears. 

Oh, it does make one want to be good and 
brave and true, doesn’t it. Father?” 

I reckon it ought to, little, girl,” he smiled 
gently. 

‘‘ It does,” breathed Genevieve. A moment later 
she crossed to Tilly’s side. 

Tilly welcomed her with subdued joyousness. 

“ Genevieve, please, please mayn’t we get out 
of this ? ” she begged. Honestly, I feel as if I 
were besieged myself in this horrid tomb-like 
place. And — and I like live soldiers so much 
better ! ” 

Genevieve gave her a reproachful glance, but in a 
moment she suggested that perhaps they had better 
go. 

‘‘ Oh, but that was lovely,” she sighed, as they 
came out into the bright sunshine. The care- 
taker told me they call it the ' Cradle of Liberty,’ 
here; and I don’t wonder.” 

Tilly uptilted her chin — already the sunshine 
had brought back her usual gayety of spirits. 

Dear me ! what a lot of cradles Liberty must 
have had! You know Faneuil Hall in Boston is 
one. Only think how far the poor thing must have 


214 


SIX STAR RANCH 


traveled between naps if she tried to sleep in all her 
cradles ! ” 

Even Genevieve laughed — but she sighed re- 
proachfully, too. 

*‘ Oh, Tilly, how you can turn poetry into prose 
— sometimes! ” Then she added wistfully: ‘‘ How 
I wish I could see this Plaza on San Jacinto Day! ” 
What is that? ” demanded Tilly. 

The twenty-third of April. They have the 
Battle of the Flowers in the Plaza here, in front 
of the Alamo. Pve always wanted to see that.’’ 

'‘Hm-m; well, I might not mind that kind of 
a battle myself,” laughed Tilly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


215 


CHAPTER XVI 

TILLY CROSSES BRIDGES 

In the afternoon the young people again started 
out to explore the town. This time Mr. Hartley 
was not with them. 

“ But are you quite sure you won’t get lost ? ” 
Mrs. Kennedy demurred anxiously, as Genevieve 
was putting on her hat. 

“ No, ma’am,” returned Genevieve, with calm 
truthfulness and a merry smile. But, dearie, it’s 
daylight and there are six of us. What if we do 
get lost? We’ve got tongues in our heads, and we 
know the name of our hotel and of the street it’s 
on.” 

‘‘ Very well,” sighed Mrs. Kennedy. Then, with 
sudden spirit she added : “ Dear me, Genevieve ! I 
shall be glad if ever we get back to Sunbridge and 
I have you to myself all quiet again. I’m afraid 
you’ll never, never settle down to just plain living 
after these irresponsible weeks of one long play- 
day.” 

It was Genevieve’s turn now to sigh. 

‘‘ I know. Aunt Julia. It will be hard, won’t it? ” 
she admitted. Then, with a quick change of man- 


216 


SIX STAR RANCH 


ner, she observed airily : As if anything could be 
nicer than learning to cook, and keeping my stock- 
ings mended! Why, Aunt Julia! ” The next mo- 
ment, with a breezy kiss, she was gone. 

It was a delightful afternoon that the girls spent 
rambling about the curiously interesting old town, 
which — Cordelia impressively informed them — 
was the third oldest in the United States. They 
tried to see it all, but they did not succeed in this, 
of course. They did stand in delighted wonder be- 
fore the San Fernando Cathedral with its square, 
cross-tipped towers; and they did wander for an 
entrancing hour in the old Mexican Quarter, with its 
picturesque houses and people, its fascinating chili 
and tamale stands, and its narrow, twisting streets, 
which Genevieve declared were almost as bad as 
Boston. 

“Boston!” bridled Tilly, instantly. “Why, 
Boston’s tiniest, crookedest streets are great wide 
boulevards compared to these! Besides, when we 
are in Boston we don’t have to cross a river every 
time we turn around.” 

“ I don’t know about that,” retorted Genevieve, 
warmly. “Just try to go over to Cambridge or 
Charlestown and see. I’m sure I think Boston’s 
got lots of bridges.” 

Tilly sniffed her disdain. 

“ Pooh ! You’re leaving Boston when you cross 
those bridges, Genevieve Hartley, and you know it. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


217 


But just look at them here! We haven’t stirred 
once out of San Antonio, and I think I’ve crossed 
five bridges in the last seven minutes. I can imagine 
those old fellows who built this town getting tired 
of building houses, and saying : ^ And now let’s stop 
and build a bridge for the fun of it 1 ’ ” 

Genevieve laughed heartily. 

‘‘ You’ve won, Tilly. I’ll give up,” she chuckled. 
** I hadn’t meant to tell you ; but there are thirteen 
miles of river twisting in and out through the city, 
and — there are seventeen bridges.” 

Where did you find out all that ? ” demanded 
Tilly, suspiciously. 

‘‘ In a guidebook that I saw last night at the 
hotel. It’s the same one, I reckon, that Cordelia’s 
been giving all her information from,” said Gene- 
vieve. 

“Hm-m;” commented Tilly. “Now I know 
I’ve crossed five bridges in the last seven minutes! ” 

“ Well, I wouldn’t care if there were forty miles 
of river and fifty bridges,” retorted Genevieve, “ if 
they’d all have such lovely green banks and dear 
little boats ! ” 

“ Nor I,” agreed two or three emphatic voices. 

Everywhere and at every turn the girls found 
something of interest, something to marvel at. 
When tired of walking they boarded a car; and 
when tired of riding, they got off and walked. 

“ Well, anyhow, folks seem to have a choice of 


SIX STAR RANCH 


218 

houses to live in,” observed Tilly, her eyes on a 
quaint little white bungalow surrounded by heuisach 
and mesquite trees. 

Yes, they do,” laughed Genevieve — Genevieve 
was looking at the next one to it : an old-fashioned 
colonial mansion set far back from the street, 
with a huge pecan tree standing guard on each 
side. 

Well, seems to me just now a hotel would look 
the nicest of anything,” moaned Cordelia, wearily. 
“ Girls, I just can’t go another step — unless it’s 
toward home,” she finished despairingly. 

Me, too,” declared Tilly. I’m just plum 
locoed. I’m that tired ! Say we hit the trail for the 
hotel right now. Come on ; I’m ready ! ” 

Genevieve laughed, but she eyed Tilly a little 
curiously. 

What do you suppose Sunbridge will say to 
your new expressions a la the wild and woolly 
West?” she queried. 

“ Just exactly what they said to you. Miss Gene- 
vieve,” bantered Tilly. 

“ Oh, but Genevieve’s were natural'' cut in 
Bertha, with meaning emphasis. 

“ All the more reason why mine should be more 
interesting, then,” retorted Tilly, imperturbably. 
And with a laugh Bertha and Genevieve gave it up, 
as with tired but happy faces, they set out for the 
hotel. 


SIX STAR RANCH 219 


At breakfast the next morning, Mr. Hartley an- 
nounced cheerily: 

‘‘ We’ll do the parks, to-day, and the Hot Sulphur 
Well and Hotel; and finish with dress parade at 
Fort Sam Houston.” 

“ But — what about your business ? ” asked Gene- 
vieve. 

Mr. Hartley laughed. 

“ Oh, that’s all — done,” he answered ; then, as 
the puzzled questioning still remained in her eyes, 
he added, a little shamefacedly: ‘‘You see, there 
wasn’t much business, to tell the truth, dearie. I 
reckon my real business was to show off the state 
of Texas to our young Easterners here.” 

“ You darling ! ” cried Genevieve, rapturously, 
while all the rest of the Happy Hexagons stumbled 
and stuttered over their vain attempts at thanking 
him. 

“ I declare! I wish we could give him our Texas 
yell, right here,” chuckled Tilly, turning longing 
eyes about the dining-room. “We would end with 
‘ Mr. Hartley,’ of course.” 

“Tilly!” gasped Cordelia, in open horror. 

“ What is the Hot Sulphur Well, Mr. Hartley, 
please?” asked Elsie, who had not heard Tilly’s 
remark. 

“ You’ll have to ask some one who’s been cured 
by it,” laughed the man. “They say there are 
plenty that have been.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 




Do you suppose it looks any like an oil well ? ” 
ventured Cordelia. 

“ Sounds a bit hot, seems to me, for to-day,’’ 
giggled Tilly. ‘‘ I think I shall like the parks bet- 
ter.” 

“ All right ; we’ll let you do the parks — all of 
them,” cooed Genevieve, wickedly. “ There are 
only twenty-one, you know, my dear.” 

“ Genevieve Hartley, if you remember your les- 
sons next year one half as well as you have that 
abominable guidebook, you’ll be at the head of your 
class! ” remarked Tilly, severely, as the others rose 
from the table, with a laugh. 

It was another long, happy day. The parks, as 
Tilly had predicted, proved to be cooler than the 
Hot Sulphur Well, and they certainly were more 
enjoyable, even though only two of Genevieve’s an- 
nounced twenty-one were visited — Brackenridge 
Park, and San Pedro Park. It was the former that 
Cordelia enjoyed the most, perhaps, for it was there 
that she saw her much-longed-for buffalo. Tired, 
but still enthusiastic, they reached the hotel in 
time to dress for the visit to Fort Sam Hous- 
ton, upon which Mrs. Kennedy was to accompany 
them. 

Getting dressed was, however, a grand flurry of 
excitement, for time and space were limited; and 
there was not one of the Happy Hexagons who did 
not feel that on this occasion, at least, every curl 


SIX STAR RANCH 


m 

and ribbon and shoe-tie must display a neatness that 
was military in its precision. 

Perhaps only Elsie of all the girls wept over the 
matter. Her eyes were red when she knocked at 
Genevieve’s door. 

“ Why, Elsie!” 

“ Genevieve, I’ve come to say — I can’t go,” 
choked Elsie. 

“ Why, Elsie, are you sick? ” 

“ Oh, no ; it’s — clothes. Genevieve, I simply 
haven’t anything to wear.” 

“ Nonsense, dear, of course you have! We don’t 
have to dress much for this thing. Where’s your 
white linen or your tan or your blue? ” 

“ The white is too soiled, and the other two have 
worn places that show.” 

'' But there’s your chambray — that isn’t worn.” 

Elsie shook her head. 

“ But I can’t — that, truly, Genevieve. It’s got 
worse and worse every day, until now anybody can 
tell Cora and Clara apart ! ” 

Genevieve choked back a laugh. She was frown- 
ing prodigiously when Elsie looked up. 

I’ll tell you, Elsie, I’ve got just the thing,” she 
cried. “ Wear my white linen — it’s perfectly fresh, 
and ’twill fit you, I’m sure.” 

Elsie’s face turned scarlet. 

Oh, Genevieve ! I wouldn’t — I couldn’t ! I’d 
never, never do such an awful thing,” she gasped. 


SIX STAR RANCH 




‘‘ Why, what would Aunt Kate say? — my wearing 
your clothes like that! Oh, I never thought of your 
taking it that way! Never mind — I’ll fix some- 
thing,” she choke^, as she turned and fled down 
the hall, leaving a distressed and almost an angry 
Genevieve behind her. 

For some minutes Genevieve busied herself with 
her own toilet, jerking hooks and ribbons into place 
with unnecessary force; then she turned despair- 
ingly to Mrs. Kennedy, whose room she was sharing. 

“ Ahnt Julia, what’s the use of having anything 
to give, if folks won’t take it when you give it? ” 
she demanded, irritably. 

‘‘ Not having followed your thoughts for the last 
five minutes, my dear, I fear I’m unable to give 
you a very helpful answer,” smiled Mrs. Kennedy, 
serenely. And Genevieve, remembering Elsie’s 
shamed, red face, decided suddenly that Elsie’s 
secret was not hers to tell. 

Half an hour later Mr. Hartley marshaled his 
party for the start. 

“ You’re a brave sight,’-’ he declared, smiling 
into the bright faces about him. “ You’re a mighty 
brave sight; and I’ll leave it to anybody if even 
the boys in line to-day will make a finer show ! ” 

The Happy Hexagons laughed and blushed and 
courtesied prettily; and only Genevieve knew that 
the smile on Elsie’s face was a little forced — 
Elsie was wearing the green chambray. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


22S 


There was an awed Oh-h ! ” of wonder and 
admiration when Mr. Hartley’s party came in 
sight of the great parade grounds at Fort Sam 
Houston. There was a still deeper, longer, louder 

Oh-h-h ! ” when, sitting at one end of the grounds, 
the girls heard the first stirring notes of the band. 

To the Hexagon Club it was a most wonderful 
sight — those long lines of men moving with such 
perfect precision. Fresh from the Alamo as the 
girls were, with the story of that dreadful slaughter 
in their ears — to them it almost seemed that there' 
before them marched the brave men who years ago 
had given up their lives so heroically in the little 
chapel. 

It was Tilly who broke the silence. 

Oh, I do just love soldiers,” she cried, with a 
hurried glance sideways to make sure that Mr. 
Hartley in the next carriage could not hear her. 

Don’t you, Genevieve ? ” But Genevieve was too 
absorbed to answer. 

A little later the band played ‘‘ The Star- 
spangled Banner,” and there sounded the signal gun 
for the lowering of the colors. In the glorious 
excitement of all this, even Tilly herself forgot to 
talk. 

After dress parade a certain Major Drew, who 
knew Mr. Hartley, came up and was duly presented 
to the ladies. He in turn presented the officer of 
the day, who looked, to the Happy Hexagons, very 


224 


SIX STAR RANCH 


handsome and imposing in sword and spurs. After 
this, at Major Drew’s invitation, there was a visit 
to the officers’ quarters, and on the Major’s broad 
gallery there was a cooling refreshment of lemon- 
ade and root beer before the drive back to the hotel. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


225 


CHAPTER XVII 
bertha’s accident ” 

It had been decided that the party would go to 
New Orleans from San Antonio, and then from 
there by boat to New York. 

‘‘ It’ll make a change from car-riding, and a 
very pleasant one. I’m thinking,” Mr. Hartley had 
said; and the others had enthusiastically agreed 
with him. 

It was on the five-hundred-and-seventy-two mile 
journey from San Antonio to New Orleans that 
something happened. In the Chronicles of the 
Hexagon Club it fell to Genevieve to tell the story; 
and this is what she wrote : 

“ It seems so strange to me that we should have 
traveled so many thousands of miles on the rail- 
road without anything happening; and then, just 
on the last five hundred (we are going to take the 
iboat at New Orleans) — to have it happen. 

‘‘We have had all sorts of amusing experiences, 
of course, losing trains, and missing connections; 
but nothing like this. Even when we had to take 
that little bumpy accommodation for a few hours, 
and it was so accommodating it stopped every few 


226 SIX STAR RANCH 


minutes ^ to water the horses/ as dear Tilly said, 
nothing happened — though, to be sure, we almost 
did get left that time we all (except Aunt Julia) 
got off and went to pick flowers while our train 
waited for a freight to go by. But we didn’t get 
quite left, and we did catch it. (Dear Tilly says 
we could have caught it, anyway, even if it had 
started, and that we shouldn’t have had to walk 
very fast, at that! Tilly does make heaps of fun 
of all our trains except the fast ones on the main 
lines. And I don’t know as I wonder, only I’d 
never tell her that, of course — that is, I wouldn't 
have told her before, perhaps.) 

“Well, where was I? Oh, I know — on the 
sidetrack. (I had to laugh here, for it occurred to 
me that that was just where I was in the story — 
on a sidetrack! I’m not telling what I started out 
to tell at all. It’s lucky we can each take all the 
room we want, though, in these Chronicles.) 

“ Well, I’ll tell it now, really, though I’m still so 
shaky and excited my hand trembles awfully. It 
was in the night, a little past twelve o’clock that it 
happened. I was lying in my berth above Elsie’s, 
and was wide-awake. I had been thinking about 
Father. He has been such a dear all the way. I 
was thinking what a big, big dear he was, when IT 
happened. 

“ Yes, I put IT in capitals on purpose, and T 
reckon you would, if suddenly the car you were 


SIX STAR RANCH 


227 


riding in began to sway horribly and bump up and 
down, and then stop right off short with a bang 
that flung you into the middle of the aisle! And 
that’s what ours did. 

“ For a minute, of course, I was too dazed to 
know what had happened. But the next moment I 
heard a scared voice wail right in my ear: 

“ ‘ Girls, it’s an accident — I know it’s an acci- 
dent ! I told you we should have an accident — 
and to think I took off my shoes to-night for the 
very first time ! ’ 

I knew then. It was Bertha, and it was an 
accident. And, do you know? I’m ashamed to 
tell it, but the first thing I did right there and then 
was to laugh — it seemed so funny about Bertha’s 
shoes, and to hear her say her usual ' I told you 
so ! ’ But the next minute I began to realize what 
it all really meant, and I didn’t laugh any more. 

‘‘ All around me, by that time, were frightened 
cries and shouts, and I was so worried for Father 
and all the rest. I struggled, and tried to get up; 
and then I heard Father’s voice call : ‘ Genevieve, 
Genevieve, where are you ? Are you all right ? * 
Oh, nobody will ever know how good that dear 
voice sounded to me! 

We called for Aunt Julia, then, and for the 
girls ; but it was ever so long before we could find 
them. We weren’t all together, anyway, and the 
crash had separated us more than ever. Besides, 


ns 


SIX STAR RANCH 


everybody everywhere all over the car was crying 
out by that time, and trying to find folks, all in the 
dark. 

‘‘We found Aunt Julia. She was almost under 
the berth near me ; but she was so faint and dazed 
she could not answer' when we first called. I was 
all right, and so were Cordelia and Bertha, only 
Bertha bumped her head pretty hard afterwards, 
looking for her shoes. Elsie Martin and Alma 
Lane were a little bruised and bumped, too; but 
they declared they could move all their legs and 
arms. 

“We hadn’t any of us found Tilly up to that 
time; but when Elsie said that (about being able 
to move all her legs and arms), I heard a little faint 
voice say ‘ You talk as if you were a centipede, 
Elsie Martin ! ’ 

“ ‘ Tilly! ’ I cried then. ‘Where are you? ’ The 
others called, too, until we were all shouting fran- 
tically for Tilly. We knew it must be Tilly for 
nobody but Tilly Mack could have made that 
speech ! 

“ At last we found her. She was wedged in under 
a broken seat almost at our feet. It was at the for- 
ward end of the car — the only part that seemed 
to be really smashed. She could not crawl out, and 
we could not pull her out. She gave a moaning 
little cry when Eather tried to. 

“ ‘ I guess — some of my legs and arms don^t 


SIX STAR RANCH 


229 


go,’ she called out to us with a little sob in her 
voice. 

“We were crazy then, of course — all of us; 
and we all talked at once, and tried to find out just 
where she was hurt. The trainmen had come by 
this time with lanterns, and were helping every one 
out of the car. Then they came to us and Tilly. 

“And we were so proud of Tilly — she was so 
brave and cheery! I never found out before what 
her nonsense was for, but I did find it out then. It 
was the only thing that kept us all from going just 
wild. She said such queer little things when they 
were trying to get her out, and she told them if 
there was any one hurt worse than she to get them 
out first. She told Father that she knew now just 
how Reddy felt when his broncho went see-saw up 
in the air, because that was what her berth did. 

“ Well, they got the poor dear out at last, and ai 
doctor from the rear car examined her at once. 
Her left arm was broken, and she had two or three 
painful bruises. Of course that was bad — but not 
anywhere near so bad as it might have been, and we 
were all so relieved. The doctor did what he could 
for her, then we all made ourselves as comfortable 
as possible while we waited for the relief train. 

“ We found out then about the wreck, and the 
chief thing we could find out anywhere was what a 
* fortunate ’ wreck it was ! The engine and six cars 
went off the track on a curve. Just ahead was a 


230 


SIX STAR RANCH 


steep bank with a river below it, and of course it 
was fortunate that we did not go down that. No 
one was killed, and only a few much injured. The 
car ahead and ours were the only ones that were 
smashed any. Yes, I suppose it was a ‘ fortunate 
wreck ^ — but I never want to see an unfortunate 
one. Certainly we all felt pretty thankful that we 
had come out of it as well as we did. 

The relief train came at last, and took us to the 
next city, and to-day we are started on our journey 
once again. We expect to reach New Orleans to- 
night, and take the boat for New York Saturday. 
We all feel a little stiff and sore, but of course dear 
Tilly feels the worst.* But she tries to be just as 
bright and smiling as ever. She looks pretty white, 
though, and what the storybooks call ' wan,’ I 
reckon. She says, anyhow, she wishes she were a 
centipede — in arms — because perhaps then she 
wouldn’t miss her left one so much, if she had 
plenty more of them. There seems to be such a 
lot of things she wants her left arm to do. The 
doctor says it wasn’t a bad break — as if any break 
could he good! 

'' And here endeth my record of ' Bertha’s acci- 
dent ’ — as Tilly insists upon calling it, until she’s 
made Bertha almost ready to cry over it.” 

Owing to the delay of the accident, Mr. Hartley 
and his party had only one day in New Orleans be- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


231 


fore the boat sailed; but they made the most of 
that, for they wanted to see what they could of the 
quaint, picturesque city. 

'' We’ll take carriages, dearie. We won’t walk 
anywhere,” said Mr. Hartley to Genevieve that 
morning. ‘‘ In the first place, Mrs. Kennedy and 
Miss Tilly couldn’t, and the rest of us don’t want 
to. We can see more, too, in the short space of 
time we have.” 

So in carriages, bright and early Friday morning, 
the party started out to “ do ” New Orleans, as 
Genevieve termed it. Leaving the American por- 
tion,” where were situated their hotel and most of 
the other big hotels and business houses of American 
type, they trailed happily along through Prytania 
Street and St. Charles Avenue to the beautiful 
“ Garden District ” which they had been warned 
not to miss. They found, indeed, much to delight 
them in the stately, palatial homes set in the midst 
of exquisitely kept lawns and wonderful groves of 
magnolia and oak. Quite as interesting to them 
all, however, was the old French or Latin Quarter 
below Canal Street, where were the Creole homes 
and business houses. Here they ate their luncheon, 
too, in one of the curious French restaurants, 
famous the world over for its delicious dishes. 

With the disappearance of the last mouthful on 
her plate, Tilly drew a long breath. 

‘‘ Fve always heard Creoles were awfully interest- 


232 


SIX STAR RANCH 


ing,” she sighed. “ Do you know — I don’t think 
rd mind much being a Creole myself! ” 

You look so much like one, too,” laughed Gene- 
vieve, affectionately, patting the soft, fluffy red hair 
above the piquant, freckled little face. 

At five o’clock that afternoon a tired but happy 
party reached the hotel in time to rest and dress 
for dinner. 

“ Well,” sighed Genevieve, “ I’d have liked a 
week here, but a day has been pretty good. We’ve 
seen enough ‘ Quarters ’ to make a ‘ whole,’ and the 
Cathedral, and dozens of other churches, and we’ve 
driven along those lovely lakes with the unpro- 
nounceable names ; and now I’m ready for dinner.” 

And we saw a statue — the Margaret Statue,” 
cut in Cordelia, anxiously. ‘‘You know it’s the 
first statue ever erected to a woman’s memory in 
the United States. We wouldn’t want to forget 
that I ” 

“ Well, I should like to,” retorted Genevieve, 
perversely. “ It’s only so much the worse for the 
United States — that it wasn’t done before ! ” 

“ I think Genevieve is going to be a suffragette,” 
observed Tilly, cheerfully, as they trooped into the 
hotel together. 

It was from New Orleans that Cordelia Wilson 
wrote a letter to Mr. William Hodges. She had 
decided that it would be easier to write her bad 
news than to tell it. Then, too, she disliked to keep 


SIX STAR RANCH 


233 


the old man any longer in suspense. She made her 
letter as comforting as she could. 

‘‘Mr. William Hodges, Sir: — ” she wrote. 
‘‘ I am very sorry to have to tell you that I have 
looked, but cannot find your oil well anywhere. I 
did find a man who had heard about it, but he said 
there wasn’t any well at all like what the Boston 
man told you there was. He said it was a bad 
swindle and he knew many others who had lost 
their money, too, which I thought would please you. 
O dear, no, I don’t mean that, of course. I only 
mean that you might like to know that others be- 
sides you hadn’t known any more than to put money 
in it, too. (That doesn’t sound quite right yet, 
but perhaps you know what I mean.) 

“ I hope you won’t feel too bad about it, Mr. 
Hodges. I saw some oil wells when we came 
through Beaumont, and I am quite sure you would 
not like them at all. They are not one bit like 
Bertha’s aunt’s well on her farm, with the bucket. 
In fact, they don’t look like wells at all, and I never 
should have known what they were if Mr. Hartley 
had not told me. They are tall towers standing up 
out of the ground instead of stone holes sunk down 
in the ground. (It is just as if you should call the 
cupola on your house your cellar — and you know 
how queer that would be ! ) I saw a lot of them — 
oil wells, not cupolas, I mean — and they looked 


2S4 


SIX STAR RANCH 


more like a whole lot of little Eiffel Towers than 
anything else I can think of. (If you will get your 
grandson, Tony, to show you the Eiffel Tower in 
his geography, you will see what I mean.) Mr. 
Hartley says they do bore for them — wells, I 
mean, not Eiffel Towers — and so I suppose they 
do go down before they go up. 

“ I saw the wells on the way between San An- 
tonio and New Orleans. One was on fire. (Just 
think of a well being on fire!) Of course we were 
riding through a most wonderful country, anyway. 
We saw a great many things growing besides oil 
wells, too, as you must know — rice, and cotton, 
and tobacco, and sugar cane, and onions, and quan- 
tities of other things. I picked some cotton bolls. 
(I spelt that right. This kind isn’t b-a-11.) I am 
sending you a few in a little box. It takes 75,000 
of them to make one bale of cotton, so I’m afraid 
you couldn’t make even a handkerchief out of these. 

“ I am so sorry about the oil well, but I did the 
'best that I could to find it. 

“ Respectfully yours, 

“ Cordelia Wilson.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


235 


CHAPTER XVIII 

THE GOLDEN HOURS 

Long before ten o’clock Saturday morning — 
the hour for sailing — Mr. Hartley and his party 
were on board the big steamship which was to take 
them to New York. Here, again, new sensations 
and new experiences awaited the Happy Hexagons, 
not one of whom had ever been on so large a boat. 

I declare, I do just feel as if I was going 
abroad,” breathed Cordelia, in an awestruck voice, 
as she crossed the gangplank. 

Well, I’m sure we are^ almost,” exulted Gene- 
vieve. We’re going to have a hundred hours of 
it. You know that little pamphlet that told about it 
called it ‘ a hundred golden hours at sea.’ Oh, Cor- 
delia, only think — one hundred golden hours ! ” 

“ You’ll think it’s a thousand, if you happen to 
be seasick,” groaned Tilly. (Tilly was looking 
rather white to-day.) And they won’t be golden 
ones, either — they’ll be lead ones. I know because 
I’ve been to Portland when it’s rough.” 

Well, we aren’t going to be seasick,” retorted 
Genevieve, with conviction. “ We’re just going to 
have the best time ever. See if we don’t!” 


S36 SIX STAR RANCH 


Now, dearie,” said Mr. Hartley, hurrying up at 
that moment, “ I engaged one of the suites for Mrs. 
Kennedy, and I think Miss Tilly had better be with 
her. The bed will be much more comfortable for 
her poor arm than a berth would be, and Mrs. Ken- 
nedy can look after her better, too, in that way. 
The little parlor of the suite will give us all a cozy 
place to meet together. There are two berths there 
which they turn into a lounge in the daytime. I 
thought perhaps you and Miss Cordelia could sleep 
there. Then I have staterooms for the rest of us — 
J engaged them all a week ago, of course. Now 
if you’ll come with me I reckon we can set up 
housekeeping right away,” he finished with a 
smile. 

“ Setting up housekeeping ” proved to be an ab- 
sorbing task, indeed. It included not only bestow- 
ing their belongings in the chosen places, but in- 
terviewing purser and stewards in regard to rugs, 
steamer chairs, and other delightfully exciting mat- 
ters. Then there was the joy of exploring the great 
ship that was to be their home for so many days. 
The luxurious Ladies’ Parlor, the Library with its 
alluring books and magazines, the Dining Saloon 
with its prettily-laid tables and its revolving chairs 
(like piano stools, Tilly said), the decks with their 
long, airy promenades, all came in for delighted ex- 
clamations of satisfaction which increased to a 
chorus of oh’s and ah’s when the trip really began. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


237 


and the stately ship was wending its way down the 
Great River to the Gulf of Mexico. 

First there was to be seen the city itself, nestled 
beyond its barricade of levees. 

‘‘ Dear me ! shuddered Cordelia. ‘‘ I don’t be- 
lieve I’d have slept a wink last night if I’d realized 
how much below the river we were. Only fancy if 
one of those levees had sprung a leak ! ” 

Why, they’d have sent for the plumber, of 
course,” observed Tilly, gravely. 

‘‘Of course ! Still — they don’t look very leaky, 
to me,” laughed Genevieve. 

“ Was it here, or somewhere else, that a man (or 
was it a child?) put his arm (or was it a finger?) 
in a little hole in the wall and stopped the leak, and 
so saved the town ? ” mused Bertha aloud dreamily. 

“ Of course it was,” answered Tilly with grave 
emphasis; and not until the others laughed did 
Bertha wake up enough to turn her back with a 
shrug. 

“ Well, it was somewhere, anyhow,” she pouted. 

“As if we could doubt that — after what you 
said,” murmured Tilly. 

“ But they have had floods here, haven’t they ? ” 
questioned Alma Lane. 

Genevieve gave a sudden laugh. At the others’ 
surprised look she explained: 

“ Oh, I’m not laughing at the real floods, the 
wafer floods they’ve had, of course. It’s just that I 


238 


SIX STAR RANCH 


happened to think of something I read some time 
ago. They had one flood here of — molasses.*’ 

“ Mo — lass — es ! ” chorused several voices. 

Yes. A big tank that the city used to have for 
a reservoir had been bought by a sugar company and 
turned into a storage for molasses. Well, it burst 
one day, and a little matter of a million gallons of 
molasses went exploring through the streets. They 
say some poor mortals had actually to wade to dry 
land.” 

Genevieve ! what a story,” cried Elsie. 

“ But it’s true,” declared Genevieve. “ A whole 
half-mile square of the city was flooded, honestly. 
At least, the newspapers said it was.” 

“ How the pickaninnies must have gloried in it,” 
giggled Tilly, “ — if they liked ‘ bread and per- 
lashes ’ as well as I used to. Only think of having 
such a big saucerful to dip your bread into ! ” 

‘‘ Tilly ! ” groaned Genevieve. 

They were at Port Chalmette, now. The Cres- 
cent City lay behind them, and beyond lay the 
shining river-roadway, with its fertile, highly-culti- 
vated plantations bordering each side, green and 
beautiful. 

How perfectly, perfectly lovely ! ” cried Elsie. 
‘‘ And Fm not sick one bit.” 

Naturally not — yet,” laughed' Tilly. But you 
just wait. We don’t sail the Mississippi all the way 
to New York, you know.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


I wish we did,” said Genevieve, her eyes dream- 
ily following the shore line. But we’re only on it 
for a hundred miles.” 

I don’t,” disagreed Elsie. I want to see the 
Gulf Stream. They say it’s a deep indigo blue, 
and that you can see it plainly. I think a blue 
river in a green sea must be lovely — like a 
blue ribbon trailing down a light green gown, you 
know.” 

“ Well, I want to see the real ocean, ’way out — 
out. I want to see nothing but water, water every- 
where,” declared Alma Lane. 

‘‘ ' And not a drop to drink,’ ” quoted Tilly. 

Well, young lady, you may see the time when 
you’d give your eyes for a bit of land — and just 
any old land would do, too, so long as it stayed 
put! ” 

What does it feel like to be seasick?” asked 
Cordelia, interestedly. 

It feels as if the bottom had dropped out of 
everything, and you didn’t much care, only you 
wished you’d gone with it,” laughed Tilly. 

Who was it? — wasn’t it Mark Twain who said 
that the first half-hour you were awfully afraid you 
would die, and the next you were awfully afraid 
you wouldn’t ? ” questioned Elsie. 

I don’t know ; but whoever said it knew what 
he was talking about,” declared Tilly. “ You just 
wait!” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


240 


'' We’re waiting,” murmured Genevieve, de- 
murely. 

You young ladies don’t want to forget your 
exercise,” said Mr. Hartley smilingly, coming up at 
that moment with Mrs. Kennedy. ‘‘ We’ve just 
been five times around the deck.” 

It’s eleven laps to the mile,” supplemented Mrs. 
Kennedy with a smile. 

“ What’s a lap ? ” asked Cordelia. 

Sounds like a kitten on a wager with a saucer 
of milk,” laughed Tilly, frowning a little as she tried 
to adjust her sling more comfortably. 

Well, young ladies, we’ll show you just what 
a lap is, if you’ll come with us,” promised Mr. Hart- 
ley; and with alacrity the girls expressed them- 
selves as being quite ready to be shown. 

On and on, mile after mile, down the great river 
swept the great ship until Forts Jackson and St. 
Philip were reached and left behind; then on and 
on for other miles to the narrow South Pass where 
on either side the Eads Jetties called forth exclama- 
tions of wonder. 

Well, you’d better ‘ ah ’ and ‘ um,’ ” laughed 
Genevieve. They happen to be one of the greatest 
engineering feats in the world; that’s all.” 

“ How do you know that ? ” demanded Bertha. 

“ Don’t worry her,” cut in Tilly, with mock S)mi- 
pathy. '' Poor thing ! it’s only a case of another 
guidebook, of course.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


241 


‘‘ Well, all is, just keep your weather eye open,” 
laughed Genevieve, “ for when we make the South 
Pass Lightship, then ho ! for the — ” 

“ Broad Atlantic,” interposed Tilly. 

“ Well, not until youVe passed through the little 
matter of the Gulf of Mexico,” rejoined Genevieve; 
while a chorus of laughing voices jeered: 

Why, Tilly Mack, where’s your geography? ” 

‘‘ Don’t know. I’m sure,” returned Tilly, imper- 
turbably. “ Haven’t seen it since I studied up 
Texas,” she finished as she turned away. 

The first night aboard ship was another experi- 
ence never to be forgotten by the Happy Hexagons. 
In the parlor of the suite Genevieve and Cordelia 
kept up such an incessant buzz of husky whispering 
and tittering that Mrs. Kennedy came out from the 
bedroom to remonstrate. 

My dears, you mean to be quiet, I know ; but 
I’m sure you don’t realize how it sounds from our 
room. Tilly is nervous and feverish to-night — 
the day has been very exciting for her.” 

And she has tried so hard to keep up, and seem 
as hsual, too,” cried Genevieve, contritely. “ Of 
course we’ll keep still ! Cordelia, I’m ashamed of 
you,” she finished severely. Then, at Cordelia’s 
amazed look of shocked distress, she hugged her 
spasmodically. As if it wasn’t all my fault,” she 
chuckled. 

In other parts of the boat the rest of the party 


242 SIX STAR RANCH 


explored their strange quarters to the last comer; 
then made themselves ready to be laid on the 
shelf,” as Elsie termed going to bed in the narrow 
berth. 

“ I shall take off my shoes to-night,” announced 
Bertha with dignity, after a long moment of silence. 
“If anything happens here we’ll get into the water, 
of course, and I think shoes would only be a nui- 
sance.” 

For a moment Elsie did not answer ; then, almost 
hopefully she asked 

“ I suppose if anything did happen we’d lose our 
clothes — even if we ourselves were saved, wouldn’t 
we? ” 

“ Why, I — I suppose so.” 

“ Yes, that’s what I thought,” nodded Elsie, hap- 
pily. Elsie, at the moment, was engaged in taking 
off a somewhat unevenly faded green chambray 
frock. 

It was on the second day of the trip that Cordelia 
took from her suit-case a sheet of paper, worn with 
much folding and refolding, and marked plainly, 
“ Things to do in Texas.” 

“ I suppose I might as well finish this up now,” 
she sighed. “ I’m out of Texas, and what is done 
is done; and what is undone can’t ever be done, 
now.” And carefully she spread the paper out and 
reached into her bag for her pencil. 


SIX STAR RANCH 243 


Wlien she had finished her work, the paper read 
as follows : 

See the blue bonnet — the Texas state flower. 
Find out if it really is shaped like a bonnet. Didn’t. 

Bring home a piece of prairie grass. Did. 

See a real buffalo. Did. (But it was in a park.) 

Find Hermit Joe Sanborn’s son, John, who ran 
away to Texas twenty years ago. Didn’t. 

See an Osage orange hedge. Did. 

See a broncho bursted (obviously changed over 
from “ busted ”). Did. 

Find out for Mrs. Miller if cowboys do shoot at 
sight, and yell always without just and due provoca- 
tion. Did. They do not. Cowboys are good, kind 
gentlemen; but they are noisy, and some rough- 
looking. 

See a mesquite tree. Did. 

Inquire if any one has. seen Mrs. Snow’s daughter, 
Lizzie, who ran away with a Texas man named 
Higgins. Did. (But could not find^ny one who 
had.) 

Pick a fig. Didn’t. 

See a rice canal. Did. 

Find out what has become of Mrs. Granger’s 
cousin, Lester Goodwin, who went to Texas four- 
teen years ago. Did. 

See cotton growing, and pick a cotton boll, called 
“ Texas Roses.” Did. 

See peanuts growing. Did. 


244 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Inquire for James Hunt, brother of Miss Sally 
Hunt. Did. (But could not find him.) 

See a real Indian. Did. 

Look at oil well for Mr. Hodges, and see if there 
is any there. Did. (But there wasn’t any there like 
the one he wanted.) 

The paper completed, Cordelia looked at it with 
troubled eyes. 

It doesn’t sound quite right,” she thought. 

Somehow, the things I wanted to do are ’most all 
done, but I didn’t find but just one of those people, 
and seems as if I ought to have done better than 
that. Besides, I’m not at all sure Mrs. Granger will 
be satisfied with what I did find for her — a cow- 
boy, so ! ” And she sighed as she put the paper 
away. 

The trip across the Gulf of Mexico to Dry Tortu- 
gas Light was nothing but a rest and a joy to every- 
body. It was still delightful and wonderfully inter- 
esting all the way around the City of Key West and 
up by the southeastern coast of Florida with its 
many lights and coral reefs. 

Here Genevieve’s guidebook came again into 
prominence. 

“ The Sand Key Light ’way back there is our 
•most southern possession, and only fifty-seven miles 
from the line of the Tropics,” she announced glibly 
one day. “ We’re coming to the American Shoals 


SIX STAR RANCH 


245 


Light, the Sombrero Light, Alligator Light, Carys- 
fort Light and Fowey Rock Light,’' 

Mercy! Didn’t you sleep any last night? ” in- 
quired Tilly, sympathetically. 

“ I suppose you mean you think it must have 
taken all night to learn all that,” laughed Genevieve. 

But it didn’t.” 

** Maybe you know some more, now,” hazarded 
Tilly. 

Certainly. After we strike Jupiter Light, we 
veer off into the Atlantic out of sight of land.” 

“ I thought lighthouses were put up so you 
wouldn’t ‘ strike ’ them,” observed Tilly, with 
smooth politeness ; but then, of course if you do 
strike them, it is quite to be expected that you veer 
off into the Atlantic, and never see land again. Be- 
sides, I found all those lighthouses and things on a 
paper last night, but it was the southern trip that 
did all that. Maybe we, going north, don’t do the 
same things at all. I sha’n’t swallow all you say, 
anyhow, till I know for sure.” 

Children, stop your quarreling,” commanded 
Bertha Brown, sternly. “ Now I’ve been learning 
something worth while. / know the saloon deck 
from the promenade deck, and I can rattle off 
* fore ’ and " aft ’ and ‘ port ’ and ^ starboard ’ as 
if I’d been born on shipboard ! ” 

‘‘Pooh! You wait,” teased Tilly. “There’ll 
come a time when you won’t think you’re born on 


246 


SIX STAR RANCH 


shipboard, and you won’t know or care which is 
fore or aft — any of you. And it will come soon, 
too. Those were porpoises playing this morning 
— when Cordelia thought she saw the sea serpent, 
you know. I heard a man say he thought it meant 
a storm was coming. And if it does — you just 
wait,” she finished laughingly. 

Oh, I’m waiting,” retorted Bertha. “ I like 
waiting. Besides, I don’t think it’s coming, any- 
how ! ” 

But it did come. Off the coast of South Carolina 
they ran into a heavy storm, and the great ship 
creaked and groaned as it buffeted wind and 
wave. 

In the little parlor of the suite the entire party, 
banished from wet, slippery decks, made merry to- 
gether, and declared it was all fun, anyway. But 
gradually the ranks thinned. First Mrs. Kennedy 
asked to be excused, and went into the bedroom. 
Alma Lane went away next. She said she wanted 
a drink of water — but she did not return, and very 
soon Elsie Martin, looking suspiciously white about 
the lips, said she guessed she would go and find 
Alma. She, too, did not return. 

Tilly went next. Tilly, naturally, had not been 
her usual self since the accident, in spite of her 
brave attempts to hide her suffering. She slipped 
away now without a word ; though just before she 
had made them all laugh by saying a little shakily ; 


SIX STAR RANCH 247 


‘‘ I declare, I wish Reddy were here ! He’d think 
he was riding his broncho, sure.” 

Just when Mr. Hartley disappeared, no one 
seemed to know. One moment he had been singing 
lustily Pull for the Shore ” ; the next moment he 
was gone. There was left then only Bertha with 
Genevieve and Cordelia in the little parlor; and 
certainly the last two were anything but sorry when 
Bertha rose a little precipitately to go, too, saying: 

** 1 — I think, Genevieve, if you don’t mind, I’ll 
go and take off my shoes. They sort of — hurt 
me. 

Honestly, Cordelia,” moaned Genevieve, when 
they had the room to themselves, ‘‘ I reckon we’re 
not caring ijust now, whether we’re fore or aft! ” 

It was not really a serious storm, after all, and 
not any of the party was seriously ill. They were all 
on deck again, indeed, smiling and happy, even if a 
little white-faced, long before the journey was 
ended. 

It was during the very last of the golden 
hours ” that Tilly, her eyes on Bartholdi’s wonder- 
ful Statue of Liberty just ahead of them, in the 
New York Bay, choked: 

‘‘ I declare. I’d just like to give that lady our 
Texas yell. Only think, girls, our Texas trip is 
almost over I ” 


248 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER XIX 

HERMIT JOE 

There was not quite so large a crowd at the 
Sunbridge station to welcome the Texas travelers 
as there had been to see them off; but it was fully 
large enough to give a merry cheer of greeting, as 
the train pulled into the little station. 

They’re all here, with their ‘ sisters and their 
cousins and their aunts,’ ” laughed Tilly, stooping 
to look through the window as she passed down the 
narrow aisle behind Genevieve. 

I should say they were,” answered Genevieve 
a little wistfully. ‘‘We haven’t got any one. I’m 
afraid, though. Miss Jane’s been ‘ down in Maine,’ 
as you call it, visiting, and she doesn’t come till next 
week.” 

“ Oh, yes, you have,” chuckled Tilly, as she 
caught sight of an eager face in the crowd. 
“There’s Harold Day.” 

“ Pooh ! He didn’t come to welcome me any more 
than he did the rest of you,” retorted Genevieve 
severely, as she neared the door. 

And what a confusion and chatter it all was, when 
“ their sisters and their cousins and their aunts'*’ — 


SIX STAR RANCH 249 


to say nothing of their fathers and mothers and 
brothers — all talked and laughed at once, each try- 
ing to be first to kiss and hug the one returning 
traveler, before bestowing almost as cordial a wel- 
come on all the others. At last, however, in little 
family groups, afoot or in carriages, the crowd 
began to leave the station, and Genevieve found 
herself with Mrs. Kennedy in the family carriage 
with the old coachman sitting sedately up in front. 
Mr. Hartley had left the party in New York, after 
seeing them safely aboard their Boston train. 

‘‘ Well, it’s all over,” sighed Genevieve, happily, 
“ and hasn’t it been just lovely — with nothing but 
poor Tilly’s arm to regret! ” 

“ Yes, it certainly has been a beautiful trip, my 
dear, and I know every one has enjoyed it very 
much. And now comes — school.” 

Genevieve made a wry face; then, meeting Mrs. 
Kennedy’s reproving eye, she colored. 

There, forgive me. Aunt Julia, please. That 
wasn’t nice of me, of course, when you’re so good 
as to let me come another year. But school is so 
tiresome I ” 

‘‘ Tiresome! Oh, my dear! ” 

Well, it is. Aunt Julia,” sighed the girl. 

But I thought you liked it now, dear. You took 
hold of it so bravely at the last.” Mrs. Kennedy’s 
eyes were wistful. 

“ Oh, of course I wanted to pass and go on with 


^50 SIX STAR RANCH 


the rest of the girls, Aunt Julia. I couldn’t help 
wanting that. But as for really liking it — I 
couldn’t like it, you know; just study, study, study 
all day in hot, poky rooms, when it’s so much nicer 
out of doors ! ” 

Mrs. Kennedy shook her head. Her eyes were 
troubled. 

“ I’m afraid, my dear, that this trip hasn't helped 
any. I was fearful that it wouldn’t be easy for you 
to settle down after such a prolonged playday.” 

Oh, but I shall settle. Aunt Julia, I shall settle,” 
promised Genevieve with a merry smile. “ I know 
I’ve got to settle — but I can’t say yet I shall like 
it,” she finished, as the carriage turned in at the 
broad driveway, and Nancy and Bridget were seen 
to be waiting in respectful excitement to welcome 
them. 

There would be five days to ‘‘ get used to it ” — 
as Genevieve expressed it — before school began; 
but long before noon of the first of those five days, 
Genevieve had planned in her mind enough delight- 
ful things to occupy twice that number of days. Im- 
mediately after dinner, too, came something quite 
unexpected in the shape of a call from Cordelia. 

Cordelia looked worried. 

Genevieve, I’ve come to ask a favor, please. 
I’m sure I don’t know as you’ll want to do it, but — 
but I want you to go with me to see Hermit Joe.” 

To see — Hermit Joe! ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


251 


“ O dear, I knew you’d exclaim out,” sighed Cor- 
delia; “but it’s just got to be done. I suppose I 
ought not to have told you, anyway, but I couldn’t 
bear to go up to that dismal place alone,” she fin- 
ished, tearfully. 

“ Why, of course not, dear ; and I’m sure you 
did just right to tell me,” soothed Genevieve, in 
quick response to the tears in Cordelia’s eyes. 
“ Now wait while I get my hat and ask Aunt Julia. 
She’ll let me go, I know ; — she’d let me go to — 
to London, with you/'' 

“Just please say it’s an errand — an important 
one,” begged Cordelia, nervously, as Genevieve 
darted into the house. 

In two minutes the girl had returned, hat in hand. 

“ Now tell me all about it,” she commanded, 
“ and don’t look so frightened. Hermit Joe isn’t 
cross. He’s only solemn and queer. He won’t hurt 
us.” 

“ Oh, no, he won’t hurt us,” sighed the other. 
“ He’ll only look more solemn and queer.” 

“ Why?” 

“ Because of what I’ve got to tell him. I — I 
suppose I ought to have written it, but I just 
couldn’t. Besides, I hadn’t found out anything, and 
so I didn’t want to write until I was sure I couldn’t 
find anything. Now it’s done, and I haven’t found 
out anything. So I’ve got to tell him.” 

“Tell him what, Cordelia?” demanded Gene- 


252 SIX STAR RANCH 


vieve, a little impatiently. “ How do you suppose 
I can make anything out of that kind of talk ? ’’ 

O dear! you can’t, of course,” sighed Cordelia; 
** and, of course, if I’ve told you so much I 
must tell the rest. It’s Hermit Joe’s son. I can’t 
find him.” 

His son I I didn’t know he had a son.” 

‘‘ He has. His name is John. He ran away to 
Texas twenty years ago.” 

And you’ve been hunting for him, too — besides 
that Lester Goodwin who turned out to be Reddy? ” 
Cordelia nodded. She did not speak. 

Genevieve laughed unexpectedly. 

“ Of all the funny things I ever heard of I Fray, 
•how many more lost people have you been looking 
for in the little state of Texas? ” 

Cordelia moved her shoulders uneasily. 

“I — I’d rather not tell that, please, Genevieve,” 
she stammered, with a painful blush. 

Genevieve stared dumbly. She had not supposed 
for a moment that Cordelia had been looking for 
any more lost people. She had asked the question 
merely as an absurdity. To have it taken now in 
this literal fashion, and evidently with good reason 
— Genevieve could scarcely believe the evidence of 
her senses. Another laugh was almost on her lips, 
but the real distress in Cordelia’s face stopped it in 
time. 

You poor dear little thing,” she cried sympa- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


253 


thetically. What a shame to bother you so ! I 
wonder you had any fun at all on the trip/' 

Oh, but I did, Genevieve ! You don’t know how 
beautiful it all was to me — only of course I felt 
sorry to be such a failure in what folks wanted me 
to do. You see, Reddy was the only one I found, 
and I'm very much worried for fear he won’t be 
satisfactory." 

Genevieve did laugh this time. 

“ Well, if he isn't, I don’t see how that can be 
your fault," she retorted. “ Come, now let’s forget 
all this, and just talk Texas instead.” 

Aunt Mary says I do do that — all the time," 
rejoined Cordelia, with a wistful smile. “ Aunt 
Sophronia is there, too, and she says I do. Still, 
she likes to hear it, I verily believe, else she wouldn't 
ask me so many questions," concluded Cordelia, lift- 
ing her chin a little. 

“ I’d like to take Miss Jane there sometime,” 
observed Genevieve, with a gravity that was a little 
unnatural. 

Oh, mercy ! " exclaimed Cordelia — then she 
stopped short with a hot blush. ‘'I — I beg your 
pardon. I’m sure, Genevieve,” she went on stam- 
meringly. I ought not to have spoken that way, 
of course. I was only thinking of Miss Jane and 
— and the cowboys that day they welcomed us.” 

Yes, I know," rejoined Genevieve, her lips 
puckered into a curious little smile. 


254 SIX STAR RANCH 


“ I don't believe Vm doing any more talking, 
anyway, than Tilly is,” remarked Cordelia, after a 
moment’s silence. Of course, Tilly, with her poor 
arm, would make a lot of questions, anyway; but 
she is talking a great deal.” 

“ I suppose she is,” chuckled Genevieve, ‘‘ and we 
all know what she'll say.” 

“ But she says such absurd things, Genevieve. 
Why, Charlie Brown — you know he calls us the 
* Happy T exdigons ’ now — well, he told me that 
Tilly ’d been bragging so terribly about Texas, 
and all the fine things there were there, that he asked 
her this morning real soberly — you know how 
Charlie Brown can ask questions, sometimes — ” 

“ I know,” nodded Genevieve. 

Well, he asked her, solemn as a judge, ‘ Do 
these wondrous tamales of yours grow on trees 
down there ? ’ 

‘‘ ' Oh, yes,’ Tilly assured him serenely. And 
when Charlie, of course, declared that couldn’t be, 
she just shrugged her shoulders and answered: 
‘ Well, of course, Charlie, I’ll own I didn’t see 
tamales growing on trees, but Texas is a very large 
state, and while I didn’t, of course, see anywhere 
near all of it, yet I saw so much, and it was all so 
different from each other, that I’m sure I shouldn’t 
want to say that I knew they didn’t have tamale 
trees somewhere in Texas ! ’ And then she 
marched off in that stately way of hers, and 


SIX STAR RANCH 


255 


Charlie declared he began to feel as if tamale trees 
did grow in Texas, and that he ought to go around 
telling folks so.” 

“ What a girl she is ! ” laughed Genevieve. 
“ But, Cordelia, she isn’t all nonsense. We found 
that out that dreadful night of the accident.” 

'‘Indeed we did,” agreed Cordelia, loyally; 
then, with a profound sigh she added : " O dear ! 
for a minute I’d actually forgotten — Hermit Joe.” 

Hermit Joe lived far up the hillside in a little hut 
surrounded by thick woods. A tiny path led to his 
door, but it was seldom trodden by the foot of any- 
body but of Hermit Joe himself — Hermit Joe did 
not encourage visitors, and visitors certainly were 
not attracted by Hermit Joe’s stern reticence on all 
matters concerning himself and every one else. 

To-day, as the girls entered the path at the edge 
of the woods, the sun went behind a passing cloud, 
and the gloom was even more noticeable than usual. 

"Mercy! I’m glad Hermit Joe isn't dangerous 
and doesn't bite,” whispered Genevieve, peering into 
the woods on either side. " Aunt Julia says he is 
really a very estimable man — Cordelia, if I was a 
man I just wouldn’t be an ' estimable ’ one.” 

" Genevieve I ” gasped the shocked Cordelia. 

Genevieve laughed. 

" Oh, I’d he it, of course, my dear, only I wouldn’t 
want to be called it. It’s tlie word — it always 
makes me think of side whiskers and stupidity.” 


256 SIX STAR RANCH 


Oh, Genevieve ! ” cried Cordelia, again. 

‘‘ Well, as I was saying. Aunt Julia told me that 
Hermit Joe was really a very nice man. She used 
to know him well before a great sorrow drove him 
into the woods to live all by himself.’^ 

Cordelia nodded sadly. 

That was his son that ran away. Aunt Mary 
told me that long ago. She told us children never 
to tease him, or worry him, but that we needn’t be 
afraid of him, either. He wouldn’t hurt us. I 
heard once that he was always stern and sober, and 
that that was why his son ran away. But that it 
’most killed him — the father — when he did go. 
And now I couldn’t find him! Isn’t it terrible, 
Genevieve ? ” Cordelia’s eyes were full of tears. 

‘‘ Yes,” sighed Genevieve. ‘‘ But you aren’t to 
blame, dear.” 

It was very beautiful in the hushed green light 
of the woods, with now and then a bird-call, or the 
swift scampering of a squirrel’s feet to break the 
silence. But the girls were not noticing birds or 
squirrels to-day, and they became more and more 
silent as they neared the end of their journey. 
The little cabin was almost in sight when Gene- 
vieve caught Cordelia’s arm convulsively. 

** Cordelia, sh-h-h I Isn’t that some one — talk- 
ing?” she whispered. 

Cordelia held her right foot suspended in the air 
for a brief half minute. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


257 


Yes. That’s Hermit Joe’s voice. He is talk- 
ing to some one.” 

‘‘ Then there must be somebody there with him.” 

'‘Yes. Genevieve, I — I guess I won’t tell him 
to-day,” faltered Cordelia. " Let’s go back. I’ll 
come again to-morrow.” 

"Nonsense! Go back, and have you worrying 
about this thing another twenty-four hours? No, 
indeed! Come, Cordelia, we must tell him now. 
I think we ought to do it, really.” 

" All right,” sighed the other despairingly. 
" Come, then.” The next minute she gave a sharp 
cry. " Why, Mr. Edwards! ” she breathed. 

They had come to the turn which brought the 
cabin into plain sight; and on the stone step with 
Hermit Joe sat the man Cordelia had last seen 
driving away from' the Six Star Ranch in Texas. 

Both men rose abruptly. The younger stepped 
forward. There was a whimsical smile on his lips, 
but his eyes were wonderfully tender. 

"Yes, 'Mr. Edwards,’ Miss Cordelia — but Mr. 
' Jonathan Edwards Sanborn/ You see, you didn’t 
know all my name, perhaps.” 

To every one’s surprise and consternation Cor- 
delia sat down exactly where she was, and began 
to cry softly. 

"Why, Cordelia!” 

Genevieve was at her friend’s side at once. Her- 
mit Joe looked plainly distressed. Mr. Jonathan 


258 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Edwards Sanborn hurried forward in frightened 
dismay. 

Oh, but Miss Cordelia, don’t, please don’t — 
I beg of you! Don’t you understand? I am John 
•Sanborn, Hermit Joe’s son; and ’twas all through 
you that I came home again.” 

Cordelia only sobbed the harder. 

Genevieve dropped on her knees at the girl’s side, 
and put her arms about her. 

Cordelia, Cordelia, dear — don’t you see ? — 
it’s all come out right. You did find him, after 
all I Why are you crying so ? ” 

T-that’s why,” stuttered Cordelia, smiling 
through tear-wet eyes. It’s because I d-did find 
him, and I’m so glad, and everything ! ” 

'' But, if you’re glad, why cry ? ” began Hermit 
Joe’s son, in puzzled wonder, but Genevieve patted 
Cordelia’s back, and smiled cheerily. 

“ That’s all right, Cordelia,” she declared. “ I 
know just how you feel. Now you know what was 
the matter with me when you girls gave me the 
Texas yell at the station. Just cry all you like! ” 

As if permission, only, were all she wanted, Cor- 
delia wiped her eyes and smiled shyly into Mr. 
Jonathan Edwards Sanborn’s face. 

“ It is really you, isn’t it? ” she murmured. 

“ It certainly is, Miss Cordelia.” 

And you wouldn’t have come if it hadn’t been 
for what I said?” 


SIX STAR RANCH 259 


“ No. You set me to thinking, and when I got 
to thinking I couldn’t stop. And, of course, when 
I couldn’t stop thinking I had to come; that’s all.” 

I’m so glad,” sighed Cordelia; then, interest- 
edly : How long have you been here ? ” 

Only since day before yesterday. No one in 
the village knows I’m here, I suspect. We’ve been 
talking over our plans — father and 1. I want him 
to come West with me.” 

Cordelia got up from the ground. 

‘‘ I’m so glad,” she said again, simply. Gene- 
vieve, I think we ought to be going.” 

As she turned toward the path, Hermit Joe ad- 
vanced so that he intercepted her. 

‘‘ Miss Cordelia, I would like to tell how — but 
I can’t. Still — I wish you could know how happy 
you’ve made me.” 

Hermit Joe spoke with evident difficulty. His 
lips, so long unused to speaking, stumbled over the 
words; but his eyes glowed as with hidden fires, 
and his whole face was alight with joy. 


260 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER XX 

THE NEW BOY 

The first day of school, for Genevieve, was not 
a success. Before two hours of it had passed, in- 
deed, she declared to herself that Miss Hart, her 
new teacher, was not at all promising, and that 
she did not like her nearly so well as she had liked 
Miss Palmer the year before. Making the final 
arrangements as to her studies and recitations, too, 
Genevieve privately voted a bore; and more than 
once her eyes turned longingly to the beautiful Sep- 
tember sunshine out of doors. 

At recess time the Happy Hexagons met in the 
corridor and held what proved to be an indignation 
meeting. 

Well, I for one don’t like her a bit,” declared 
Tilly, perking up the bow ends of the black sling 
that hung about her neck. 

Nor I,” echoed Genevieve. 

“ Not much like Miss Palmer last year, nor Miss 
Jones,” said Bertha. I told you we wouldn’t get 
such a good one this term.” 

But, girls, I think we ought to try to like her,” 
ventured Cordelia, in a voice that told very plainly 
how she expected her remark to be received. 


SIX STAR RANCH 261 


''Of course,” sniffed Tilly, disdainfully. 

" Oh, but Fm sure she won’t be half bad when 
we come to know her,” cried Alma Lane. '' She 
was so nervous this morning, and I think acted 
troubled over something.” 

Tilly tossed her head. 

"Troubled! I should think we were the ones 
that were troubled. Did you ever see such a lot of 
rules and regulations about what not to do? She’s 
scarcely left a thing we can do.” 

" Oh, yes, she has,” groaned Genevieve. " We 
can sit still and look pleasant, and study, study, 
study! I reckon I shall have to, all right, too, this 
term, at the rate my studies and recitation hours 
are piling up,” she finished, as the bell rang for 
them to go to their seats, 

All days — even the worst of them — come to 
an end sometime; and at last Genevieve was free 
to go home. Half-way to the Kennedy house a 
soft whistle of the Happy Hexagons’ Club song 
sounded behind her; and a moment later Harold 
Day caught up with her. 

" Well?” he queried. 

" But it isn’t ' well ’ at all,” wailed Genevieve, 
with a shake of her head. 

" So I judged from your face.” 

" But — have you ever had Miss Hart for a 
teacher ? ” 

"No; she’s new this year. We had Miss Hoi- 


262 


SIX STAR RANCH 


brook in her place last year, and she was fine; but 
she got married, you know. She herself recom- 
mended Miss Hart for the position, I believe.” 

Did she ? ” sighed Genevieve. 

What a lugubrious face ! ” laughed Harold. 

Suppose you tell me what is the matter with Miss 
Hart, eh?” 

‘‘ I can’t. It’s just an intangible, indefinable 
^ don’t-like-her ’ feeling. She doesn’t sit still a 
minute, and she’s awful on rules. Tilly calls her 
‘Miss Hartless.’” 

Harold laughed. 

“Trust Tilly to call her something!”' he re- 
joined. “ But I don’t believe the lady will be half 
bad when you get used to her.” 

“ That’s what your cousin Alma says.” 

“ Well, I believe she’s right,” declared Harold. 
“ It sounds to me as if Miss Hart were nervous 
and afraid.” 

Genevieve opened her eyes. 

“ Afraid I A teacher afraid! ” 

“ Wouldn’t you be afraid if you had to follow 
where you know there had been such favorites as 
Miss Holbrook and Miss Palmer were ? ” 

“ Why, I never thought of it that way,” frowned 
Genevieve. “ I didn’t suppose teachers ever had — 
er — feelings like that.” 

“ Well, I suppose teachers are — folks, like the 
rest of us,” hazarded the youth, as he stopped a 


SIX STAR RANCH 263 


minute at the foot of the Kennedys’ front 
walk. 

Genevieve shook her head mischievously. 

“ I don’t,” she protested. “ They always seem 
to me like things you buy for school, just like you 
do the books and chalk, and that they come in boxes 
all graded and sorted — primary, grammar, high 
school, French, German, and all that,” she flashed 
over her shoulder, as she skipped up the w:a;lk 
toward the house. 

There ! ” sighed Genevieve, bounding up on to 
the veranda, and dropping her books into a chair. 

I’m going for a ride with Tilly, Aunt Julia, please, 
if you don’t mind.” 

“Very well, dear; but don’t stay too long. 
There’s your practising, you know.” 

Genevieve scowled, and made an impatient ges- 
ture — neither of which Mrs. Kennedy seemed to 
notice. 

“ You have your watch, I see,” she went on 
serenely; “so I don’t think you’ll forget.” 

Genevieve bit her lip. She threw a hurried 
glance into Mrs. Kennedy’s face; but that, too, 
Mrs. Kennedy did not appear to notice. 

“ No, Aunt Julia,” said Genevieve, a little con- 
strainedly, as she went to saddle her horse, “ I 
sha’n’t — forget.” 

When quite by herself around the corner of the 
house, she drew a long breath. 


264 SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Sometimes/' she muttered fiercely behind her 
teeth, “ sometimes I — I just wish folks weren’t 
so good to mel Seems to me I just can’t waste 
a whole hour of this tiny little bit of glorious day 
that is left, practising a stupid old ‘ one, two — 
one, two — one, two ! ” Then, with apparent ir- 
relevance, she patted her blue-and-gold chatelaine 
watch remorsefully — and it may be noted right 
here that she came back in ample time for her hour 
of practising before supper. 

There was a new boy at school the next morning. 
This fact in itself did not particularly interest the 
Happy Hexagons until they learned his name. It 
was “ O. B. J. Holmes.” When the initials did not 
seem quite to satisfy Miss Hart, he hesitated visibly, 
then said, with a very painful blush, that the ‘‘ O ” 
might be put down “ Oliver.” It was plainly on 
the teacher’s tongue to ask about the other letters; 
but, after a moment’s hesitation, she passed over 
the matter, and turned to something else. 

As usual the Happy Hexagons found themselves 
together at recess time, and as was natural, perhaps, 
the subject of the new boy came up for discus- 
sion. 

‘‘ I don’t believe ‘ Oliver ’ is ever his name,” de- 
clared Tilly, stoutly. No sane youth in his right 
mind would blush so beautifully over just ‘ Oliver.’ 
Besides, he didn’t say it was Oliver.” 

“ I saw Miss Hart talking to him as I came out 



BEGAN 



^ SIX STAR RANCH 


265 


just now,” announced Bertha, and his face was 
even redder than ever. Hers was getting red, too.” 

‘‘ Then there is something,” cried Genevieve, ex- 
citedly, and it’s a mystery. I love mysteries ! 
‘ O. B. J.’ — what a really funny set of letters ! ” 

'' Must be ‘ Oliver Ben Johnson,’ ” laughed 
Bertha. 

Sounds to me like ' O Be Joyful,’ ” giggled 
Tilly. 

“Sh-h! — Tilly!” warned Cordelia, in a hor- 
rified whisper. He’s coming. He’ll hear you ! ” 

But Tilly was not to be silenced. Tilly, for some 
reason, felt recklessly mischievous that morning. 

‘‘ Why, of course his name is ‘ O Be Joyful,’ ” 
she cried in gay, shrill tones that carried the words 
straight to the ears of a rather awkward-appearing 
boy coming toward them. How could it be any- 
thing else ? ” 

The boy blushed hotly. For a moment it seemed 
as if he would stop and speak ; but the next minute 
he had turned away his face, and was passing them 
hurriedly. 

It was then that the unexpected happened. With 
a quick little impulsive movement, Genevieve stepped 
to the new boy’s side, and held out a frankly cordial 
hand. 

How do you do, Mr. Oliver Holmes,” she be- 
gan breathlessly, but with hurried determination. 
** I am Genevieve Hartley, and I’d like to welcome 


266 


SIX STAR RANCH 


you to our school. These are my friends : Cordelia 
Wilson, Alma Lane, Bertha Brown, Elsie Martin, 
and Tilly Mack. We hope you’ll soon get ac- 
quainted and feel at home here,” she finished, her 
face almost as painful a red as was the boy’s. 

O. B. J. Holmes clutched Genevieve’s hand, 
stammered a confused something in response to the 
introductions, and flung a terrifiedly uncertain bow 
in the direction of the wide-eyed girls; then he 
turned and fled precipitately. 

Behind him he left, for one brief minute, a dazed 
silence before Tilly lifted her chin disagreeably and 
spoke. 

‘‘ Well, dear me ! For so marked a bid for his 
favor, seems to me our young friend doesn’t show 
proper appreciation — to run away like that ! ” 

Genevieve colored angrily. 

“ That was no bid for his favor, and you know 
it, Tilly Mack! ” 

No? ” teased Tilly, hatefully. Well, I’m sure 
I should have thought it was if a perfect stranger 
flung herself in my way like that.” 

“Tilly, Tilly — don’t!” begged Cordelia, almost 
tearfully. 

It was Genevieve’s turn to lift a disdainful chin. 
She eyed Tilly scornfully. 

“ Oh, no, you wouldn’t — not if some other per- 
fect stranger had just called out a particularly hate- 
ful, horrid joke about something you were not in 


SIX STAR RANCH 


267 


the least to blame for ! If you hadn’t said what you 
did,- 1 shouldn’t have said what I did, Tilly Mack. 
As it was, I — I just couldn’t help it; I was so 
sorry for him ! ” 

Oh, it was just being sorry, then! Oh, excuse 
me; I didn’t know,” cooed Tilly, smoothly. You 
see, it looked so — different I ” 

Tilly!” gasped Cordelia. ‘‘Genevieve, don’t 
you mind one bit what she says ! ” But Genevieve, 
without a word, had turned and was walking swiftly 
away. 

“ Well, Tilly Mack,” chorused several indignant 
voices ; and Elsie Martin added severely : “ I’ve 
got my opinion of you — after all Genevieve has 
just done for us! I’m sure, I think it was lovely of 
her to speak to that boy like that ! ” 

Tilly flushed uncomfortably. Her tongue had 
gone much farther than she had intended it to go. 
She did not like to think, either, of that Texas trip 
just then. But the very shame that she felt made 
her only the more determined not to show it — 
then. 

“ Pooh ! there wasn’t a thing I said that any- 
body need to make such a fuss about,” she declared 
loftily; then, as she spied Harold Day coming 
toward them, she called in a merry voice : “ Seen 
the new boy, Harold? His name is ‘ O. B. J. 
Holmes.’ / say his name is ‘ O Be Joyful,’ and the 
girls are shocked at my disrespect.” 


268 SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Is that so? ” laughed Harold. Well, I’m not 
sure I’d like that name myself very well — even if 
’tis a cheerful one! Where’s Genevieve? One 
doesn’t often see one of you without all of you.” 

“ Oh, she was here, but she’s gone. She was the 
most shocked of all,” answered Tilly, with mock 
humility. “ Probably she’s gone to tell him so. 
You see, she shook hands with him and introduced 
us all around, and said she’d like to welcome him 
and that she hoped he’d enjoy it here.” 

Oh, Tilly! ” remonstrated Cordelia. 

Why, Cordelia, didn’t she?” asked Tilly, in a 
particularly innocent tone of voice. 

“ Y - yes,” admitted Cordelia, * reluctantly, 
only — ” The bell rang and the group broke 
up, with Cordelia’s sentence still unfinished. 

The rest of the day for the Happy Hexagons 
was not an easy one. Tilly looked rebellious — and 
ashamed. Cordelia looked ready to cry. Gene- 
vieve kept her eyes on her books and seemed un- 
aware that there was such a thing in the world 
as a girls’ club, of which she was a prominent mem- 
ber. Bertha, Elsie, and Alma divided their time 
between scowling at Tilly and trying to attract 
Genevieve’s attention. 

It was during the Latin recitation, which came 
just before closing time at noon, that Cordelia’s 
perturbation culminated in a blunder that sent 
most of the class into convulsive giggles, and even 


SIX STAR RANCH 


269 


brought a twitching smile to Genevieve’s tense 
lips. 

Cordelia, rising to translate in her turn, hurried 
blindly through a paragraph until she came to the 
words ''sub jugum.” Now Cordelia very well 
knew what "sub jugum” meant; but her eyes, at 
the moment, were divided between her book and 
Genevieve’s flushed cheeks, and so saw, apparently, 
but half of the word " jugum.” At all events, the 
next moment the class were amazed to learn from 
Cordelia’s lips that Caesar sent the army — not 
" under the yoke ” as was expected — but " under 
the jug.” 

Cordelia knew, before the titters of the class told 
her, what she had said; and with hot blushes she 
made a hasty correction. But to Cordelia, usually 
so conscientiously accurate and circumspect, the 
thing was a tragedy, and, as such, would not soon 
be forgotten by her. She knew, too, that the class 
would not let her forget it even could she herself 
do so. If she had doubted this, she did not doubt 
it longer, after school was dismissed, for she was 
assailed on all sides by a merry bombardment of 
gibes and questions as to just what sort of jug it 
was, anyhow, under which Caesar sent his army. 

Genevieve, only, had nothing to say. She did 
not, indeed, even glance toward Cordelia. With 
averted face she hurried through the corridor and 
out the street door alone. In the yard a quick step 


^70 


SIX STAR RANCH 


behind her overtook her, and she found herself 
looking into the flushed, agitated face of the new 
boy. 

O. B. J. Holmes would not, at first sight, be called 
a good-looking youth. His face was freckled, and 
his nose was rather large. But his mouth was well- 
shaped, and his eyes were large and expressive. 
They looked into Genevieve’s now with a gaze that 
was clear and honest and manly. 

Miss Genevieve, may I walk with you a little 
way, please ? ” he asked with disarming directness. 
‘‘ I want to speak to you.” 

“ Why, of — of course,” stammered Genevieve. 
Then she colored painfully: behind her she heard 
Tilly’s laughing voice, followed by Alma’s lower 
one, and Harold’s. 

I wanted to thank you for what you did this 
morning,” began O. B. J. Holmes, falling into step 
with her. 

“ Oh, that wasn’t — wasn’t anything,” stammered 
Genevieve, nervously, still acutely conscious of the 
eyes that she knew were behind her. 

The boy smiled a little wistfully. 

“ Perhaps not, to you,” he answered ; but if 
you’d been named ' O Be Joyful ’ and had had to 
suffer for it as I have, you’d think it was some- 
thing.” 

You don’t mean to say your name is ^ O Bt 
Joyful ’ ! ” gasped Genevieve. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


271 


He nodded, his face showing a deeper red. 

“ Yes, that’s what I wanted to tell you. I didn’t 
feel square not to have you know it, after you stood 
up so bravely for ' Oliver.’ Of course, if you like, 
you may tell the rest. I suppose I was foolish to 
try to keep it to myself, anyway,” he sighed moodily. 

'‘Tell it! Of course I sha’n’t tell it,” declared 
Genevieve, warmly. She had forgotten all about 
those watching eyes behind her, now. 

“ Thank you,” smiled the boy again, a little wist- 
fully. “ Miss Hart knows it, of course. I told her 
at recess; and the principal, Mr. Jackson, knows it. 
He agreed to letting me be called ‘ Oliver,’ and so 
does Miss Hart. Still, I don’t suppose I can keep 
it, and it will get out. I — I supposed it had got 
out when I heard your friend this morning.” 

“Well, it isn’t out, and nobody knows it — but 
me,” declared Genevieve, with more warmth than 
grammar. “ That was only some of Tilly Mack’s 
nonsense; and when you know her better, you’ll 
know that nobody pays any attention to what Tilly 
says.” Genevieve stopped abruptly, and bit her lip. 
She was thinking that not so very long before, she 
herself had paid attention to something Tilly Mack 
said. 

‘ I don’t think mother ever realized just what 
such a name would be for a fellow to carry through 
life,” said the boy, after a moment’s silence. 
“ There were five of us children, and she gave us 


272 


SIX STAR RANCH 


all queer names — names that expressed something 
that had just been happening in the family, you un- 
derstand. For instance, my oldest brother was bom 
in a year when the crops failed, and they called him 
‘ Tribulation.’ Crops were good, you see, when I 
came,” he added, with a rueful smile. 

“ Why, how — how funny and — and terrible,” 
breathed Genevieve. 

Yes, it was terrible — but mother never thought 
of it that way. I’m sure. I’m glad she can’t know 

— now — just how hard it’s been for me. When 
I came here, I knew I was a perfect stranger and 
I determined folks shouldn’t know. I’d be ‘ Oliver 
B. J. Holmes.’ ” 

^^And you shall be ‘Oliver B. J. Holmes,”’ 
averred Genevieve, lifting her chin. “ Oh, of course 
Tilly will call you the other, and maybe some of the 
rest will, sometimes ; but don’t let that fret you for 
a moment. Just remember that no one knows — 
for I sha’n’t tell it. And now good-by. This is my 
street,” she finished, with a cheery nod. 

It was not easy for Genevieve to go back to the 
short session of school that afternoon ; but she went 

— and she tried to appear as if everything was as 
usual when she met Cordelia and Elsie at the corner. 
Cordelia and Elsie were only too glad to follow her 
lead. Not until they met Tilly in the sOhool yard — 
and saw her turn hastily away without speaking — 
did they show how really constrained they felt. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


273 


Genevieve, apparently, saw and felt nothing of 
this — but she never looked toward Tilly that after- 
noon ; and when school was dismissed she hurried 
cheerfully away with only a smiling nod toward 
Cordelia and Alma, whom she passed in the cor- 
ridor. 

At home Genevieve went immediately to her 
practising — somewhat to Mrs. Kennedy’s surprise. 
She practised, too, quite fifteen minutes over her 
hour — still more to Mrs. Kennedy’s surprise. 
There was, also, a certain unsympathetic hardness 
in the chords and runs that puzzled the lady not a 
little; but in the face of their obvious accuracy, 
and of Genevieve’s apparent faithfulness, Mrs. 
Kennedy did not like to find fault. 

Just how long Genevieve would have practised is 
doubtful, perhaps, had there not sounded an in- 
sistently repeated whistle of the Hexagon Club song 
from the garden. The girl went to the open win- 
dow then. 

Did you whistle, Harold ? ” she asked, not too 
graciously. 

Did I whistle? ” retorted the boy, testily. Oh, 
no, I never whistled once — but I did four times! 
See here, I thought your practice-hour was an 
hour.'' 

“ It is.’’ 

Well, you’ve been working fifteen minutes over- 
time already.” 


274 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘^Have I?’’ 

“ Yes, you have; and your constitution positively 
needs a walk. Come, it’s your plain duty to your 
health. Will you go? ” 

Genevieve dimpled into a laugh. 

‘‘ All right,” she cried more naturally. “ Then 
I’ll come. I’ll be out in a jiffy.” 

Let’s go up through the pasture to the woods,” 
proposed Harold, when Genevieve appeared, swing- 
ing her hat. 

All right,” nodded Genevieve, somewhat list- 
lessly. Anywhere.” 

In the woods, some time later, Genevieve and 
Harold dropped themselves down to rest. It was 
then that Harold cleared his throat a little nerv- 
ously. 

You have a new boy in school, I hear,” he 
said. 

Genevieve turned quickly. For a moment she 
looked almost angry. Then, unexpectedly, she 
laughed. 

“ You’ve been talking with Tilly, I perceive,” 
she remarked. 

Oh, no; Tilly has only been talking with me,” 
retorted Harold, laughing in his turn — though a 
little constrainedly. 

Genevieve grew suddenly sober. 

“ I don’t care ; I’m glad I did it,” she declared. 
‘‘ You know what Tilly can be when she wants to 


SIX STAR RANCH 275 


be — and she evidently wanted to be, this morning. 
Just because a boy is new and has got freckles and 
a queer name, is no reason why he should be made 
fun of like that.” 

** Of course not ! ” Then, still a little constrain- 
edly, Harold asked: “How do you like him? I 
saw you talking with him afterward.” 

Genevieve frowned thoughtfully. 

“ Why, I don’t know — I hadn’t thought,” she 
answered. “ But I reckon perhaps I like him. He 
talked quite a little, and he seemed rather nice, I 
think — just frank and folksy, you know. Yes, I 
think I like him. I think we’ll all like him.” 

“ Oh, of course,” agreed Harold without enthu- 
siasm, getting suddenly to his feet. “ Well, I sup- 
pose we must be going.” 

“ Yes, of course,” sighed Genevieve, glancing 
down at her little blue-enamel watch ; “ but it is 
nice here ! ” 

The homeward walk was somewhat of a 'silent 
one. Harold was unusually quiet, and Genevieve 
was wondering just how and when peace and happi- 
ness were to reign once more in the Hexagon Club. 
She was wondering, too, if ever she could be just 
the same to Tilly — unless Tilly had first something 
to say to her. 

As it happened, Genevieve’s questions were an- 
swered, in a way, before she slept; for, after she 
had gone up to bed that night, there came a ring at 


276 


SIX STAR RANCH 


the doorbell, followed, a moment later, by a tap at 
her door. 

It do be a note for you. Miss Genevieve,” ex- 
plained Nancy. 

“ A note — for me ? ” 

Yes, Miss; from Miss Tilly, I think. She’s 
down at the door with her brother.” 

Genevieve did not answer. Her eyes were de- 
vouring the note. 

‘‘ Dear Genevieve : — ” Tilly had written. “ I’m 
so ashamed I just can’t live till you tell me you for- 
give me. I have begged Howard to take me down 
there. I know I never, never can sleep till I’ve 
asked your pardon for being so perfectly horrid 
this morning. Will you ever, ever forgive and love 
me again? 

‘‘ Your miserable, remorseful 

Tilly. 

‘‘ P. S. I think what you did was just the bra- 
vest, loveliest thing I ever saw a girl do. 

“t. m. 

“ P. S. again. I’m so late I’m afraid you’ve 
gone to bed; but if you haven’t, and if you do for- 
give me, come to your window and wave to me. I 
shall watch with what Quentina would call soulful, 
hungry eyes. 


SIX STAR RANCH 




“That’s all right; thank you, Nancy. There 
isn’t any answer,” smiled Genevieve as she closed 
the door. The next moment she darted across the 
room, plucked a great pink aster from the vase bn 
the table, hurried to the window and threw up the 
screen. 

Below she saw the automobile and the two figures 
therein. Faintly visible, too, was the upturned face 
of the girl, containing, presumably, the “ hungry, 
soulful eyes.” 

The next moment, plump into Tilly’s lap, fell a 
huge pink aster. 


278 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER XXI 

GENEVIEVE LEARNS SOMETHING NOT IN BOOKS 

School, in an amazingly short time, fell into its 
customary routine. Genevieve, it is true, did not 
cease to pine for long, free hours out of doors ; but 
with as good grace as she could muster she sub- 
mitted to the inevitable. 

Miss Hart was still not a favorite in the school, 
and no one seemed to realize this more keenly than 
did Miss Hart herself. At all events, as the days 
passed, she grew thinner and paler looking, and 
more nervous and worried in her manner. While 
none of the Happy Hexagons deliberately set her- 
self to making trouble, certainly none of them tried 
to cause matters to be any easier for her. The 
girls themselves had long since forgotten their brief 
day of unpleasantness regarding O. B. J. Holmes, 
and were more devoted than ever, after this, their 
first quarrel. 

In the Kennedy home, too, matters had settled 
into their usual routine. Miss Jane had returned, 
and the days, for Genevieve, were full of study, 
practice, and the usual number of lessons in cooking 
and sewing. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


279 


As the crisp October days came, every pleasant 
Saturday afternoon found the Hexagon Club off 
for a long walk or ride, sometimes by themselves, 
sometimes with Harold, Charlie, O. B. J. Holmes, 
or some of the other boys and girls as invited guests. 

O. B. J. Holmes had long since ceased to be the 
“ new boy.’’ He was not, indeed, exactly a favorite 
with some of the young people, but he was included 
frequently in their merrymakings — chiefly because 
Genevieve declared openly that she thought he 
ought to be. He was not called “ Oliver ” except 
in the classroom. Outside he was known usually 
as “ O. B. J.” slurred into “ Obejay.” Sometimes, 
it is true, Tilly’s old “ O Be Joyful ” was heard, 
but not often — perhaps because the lad appeared 
not to care if they did call him that, specially if 
Genevieve were near to join in the good-natured 
laugh with which he greeted it. 

Undeniably, this frank friendliness of the most 
popular girl in school had much to do with the way 
the others regarded him; though they were at a 
loss, sometimes, to account for a certain quality in 
that friendship, which they could not fathom. 

** It’s for all the world as if you’d known each 
other before,” Harold explained it a little ag- 
grievedly one day to Genevieve, when O. B. J. 
Holmes had just thrown her one of his merry 
glances at a sudden revival of Tilly’s ‘‘ O Be Joy- 
ful ” name. ‘‘ Say, have you known him before ? ” 


280 SIX STAR RANCH 


Genevieve laughed — but she shook her head. 

“No; but maybe I do know him now — a little 
better than you do,” she' answered demurely, think- 
ing of the name that Harold did not even suspect. 

School this year, for Genevieve, was meaning 
two new experiences. One was that for the first 
time class officers were elected ; the other, that a, 
school magazine was started. In both of these she 
bore a prominent part. In the one she was iman- 
imously elected president; in the other she was 
appointed correspondent for her class by the Editor- 
in-Chief. By each, however, she was quite over- 
whelmed. 

“ But I don’t think I can do them — not either 
of them,” she declared to Mrs. Kennedy and Miss 
Jane Chick when she had brought home the news. 
“To be Class President you have to be awfully 
dignified and conduct meetings and know parlia- 
mentary law, and all that.” 

“ I’m not afraid of anything there hurting you,” 
smiled Miss Jane. “ In fact, it strikes me that it 
will do you a great deal of good.” 

“ Y-yes, I suppose you would think so,” smiled 
Genevieve, a little dubiously. 

“ And I’m sure it’s an honor,” Mrs. Kennedy re- 
minded her. 

Genevieve flushed. 

“I am - glad they wanted me,” ^e admitted 
frankly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


281 


“ And what is this magazine affair? ” asked Miss 
Jane. 

‘‘ Yes, and that’s another thing,” sighed Gene- 
vieve. I can’t write things. If it were only Quen- 
tina, now — she could do it ! ” 

“ But you have written for the Chronicles, my 
dear,” observed Mrs. Kennedy. Have you given 
those up ? ” 

‘‘ Oh, no ; we still keep them, only we have entries 
once a week now instead of every day. There isn’t 
so much doing here as there was in Texas, you 
know.” 

Then you do write for that,” said Miss Jane. 

Oh, but thafs just for us,” argued Genevieve. 

I don’t mind that. But this has got to be printed. 
Miss Jane — printed right out for everybody to 
read ! If it were only Quentina, now — she’d glory 
in it. And — oh. Miss Jane, how I wish you could 
see Quentina,” broke off Genevieve, suddenly. 
‘‘ Dear me ! wouldn’t she just hit on your name, 
though ! She’d be i^hyming it in no time, and have 
‘ Miss Jane at the window-pane,’ before you could 
turn around ! ” 

“ Quite an inducement for me to know her. I’m 
sure,” observed Miss Jane, dryly. 

Genevieve laughed, but she sighed again, too. 

“ Well, anyhow, she would do it lovely — this 
correspondence business; but I can’t. I’m sure.” 

‘‘ What are you supposed to do? ” 


282 SIX STAR RANCH 


“Why, just hand in things — anything that’s of 
interest in my class; but I don’t know what to 
say.” 

“ Per'haps the others can help you,” suggested 
Aunt Julia. 

Genevieve gave a sudden laugh. 

“ They’d like to — some of them. Tilly’s tried 
already. She gave me two items this noon, all 
written down. One was that O. B. J. had a new 
freckle on the left side of his nose, and the other 
that Bertha hadn’t said ‘ I told you so ’ to-day.” 

“ Genevieve ! ” protested the shocked Miss Jane. 
“You wouldn’t — ” She stopped helplessly. 

“ Oh, no. Miss Jane, I wouldn’t,” laughed Gene- 
vieve, merrily, as she rose from the dinner-table. 

Perhaps it was her duties as president, and her 
new task as correspondent, or perhaps it was just 
the allurement of the beautiful out-of-doors that 
made it so hard for Genevieve to spend time on her 
lessons that autumn. Perhaps, too, her lack of 
enthusiasm for Miss Hart had something to do 
with it. Whatever it was, to concentrate her atten- 
tion on Latin verbs and French nouns grew harder 
and harder as the days passed, until at last — in 
the frenzied rush of a study-hour one day — she 
did what she had never done before : wrote the 
meaning of some of the words under the Latin 
version in her book. 

It was, apparently, a great success. Her work in 


SIX STAR RANCH ^83 


class was so unusually good that Miss Hart’s tired 
eyes brightened, and her lips spoke a word of high 
praise — praise that sent to Genevieve’s cheek a 
flush that Genevieve herself tried to think was all 
gratification. But — the next day she did not write 
any words in the book. The out-of-doors, however, 
was just as alluring, and the outside duties were 
just as pressing; so there was just as little time as 
ever for the Latin verbs. They suffered, too, in 
consequence. So, also, did Genevieve; for this 
time. Miss Hart, stung into irritation by this appar- 
ently unnecessary falling back into carelessness, 
said a few particularly sharp words that sent Gene- 
vieve out of the class with very red cheeks and very 
angry eyes. 

“I just hate Miss Hart and school, and — and 
everything,” stormed Genevieve hotly, five minutes 
later, as she met Cordelia and Tilly in the corridor 
after school was dismissed. 

‘‘ Oh, Genevieve,” remonstrated Cordelia, faintly. 

‘‘ Well, I do. I didn’t have time to get that les- 
son — but a lot Miss Hart cared for that f ” 

Why don’t you use a pony?” twittered Tilly, 
cheerfully. 

“A — pony ? ” Genevieve’s eyes were puzzled. 

Tilly laughed. 

“ Oh, it isn’t one of your bronchos,” she giggled, 
‘‘and it’s easier to ride than they are! It’s just a 
nice little book that you buy — a Latin translation, 


284 


SIX STAR RANCH 


you know, all done by somebody else — and no 
bother to you.” 

'‘But — is that quite — fair?” frowned Gene- 
vieve. 

" Hm-m ; well, I presume Miss Hartless wouldn't 
call it — good form,” she shrugged. 

"Why, Tilly Mack! of course it isn't fair, and 
you know it,” cried Cordelia. " It's worse than 
cribbing.” 

"What's cribbing?” demanded Genevieve. 

" It’s the only way out when you haven’t got 
your lesson,” answered Tilly, promptly. 

" It’s writing the translation under the words in 
the book,” explained Elsie Martin, who, coming 
up at the moment, had heard Genevieve’s ques- 
tion. 

" It’s just plain cheating — and it’s horrid,” de- 
clared Cordelia, with emphasis. 

Genevieve’s face turned a sudden, painful red, 
for some unapparent reason. 

"Y-yes, it must be,” she murmured faintly, as 
she turned to go. 

On the walk home that noon, Harold, as was fre- 
quently the case, overtook her. 

" Well, what part of the world would you like 
changed to-day?” he asked, with a smiling glance 
at her frowning face. 

" Chiefly, I reckon I’d like no school,” sighed 
Genevieve; "but if I can’t have that. I’d like an- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


285 


other box of teachers opened so we could have a 
new one/' 

“ What’s the trouble now ? ” 

‘‘ Oh, I reckon the trouble is with me,” admitted 
Genevieve, ruefully. “ Anyhow, Miss Jane would 
say it was. I flunked in Caesar — but that’s no rea- 
son why Miss Hart should have been so disagree- 
able ! But then, I suppose she has to be. She came 
out of that kind of a box, you know.” 

Harold laughed, though a little gravely. 

‘‘ You still think they come all boxed, sorted, and 
labeled, do you ? ” he said. “ And that they aren’t 
‘ just folks ’ at all ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, I still think so. They never seem a bit 
like ‘ folks ’ to me. It’s their business to sit up 
there stiff and solemn and stern, and see that you 
behave and learn your lessons. I never saw one 
that I liked, except Miss Palmer and Miss Jones 

— but then, they came out of a jolly box, any- 
how.” 

“ Lucky ladies ! ” 

Genevieve laughed rebelliously. 

‘‘Oh, I know I’m horrid,” she admitted; “but 

— well, I went off for a ride with Tilly yesterday 
after school, instead of paying attention to his Im- 
perial Highness, Caesar; and that’s what was the 
trouble. But, Harold, it was so perfectly glorious 
out I had to — I just had to ! I tell you, every bit 
of me was tingling to go ! Now what do you sup- 


286 


SIX STAR RANCH 


pose Miss Hart knows of a feeling like that? She 
simply couldn’t understand it.” 

“ But — Miss Hart doesn’t look very old — to 

ft 

me. 

Genevieve stopped short, and turned half 
around. 

“ Old ! Why, she’s a teacher, Harold ! ” 

Harold chuckled, as they started forward again. 

“ I should like to see some teachers’ faces if they 
could hear you say ^ teacher ’ in that tone of voice, 
young lady ! ” 

Pooh ! I reckon it would take considerable to 
make me think of any teacher as young,” retorted 
Genevieve, with emphasis. 

“ All right ; but — aren’t you coming out, later, 
for a walk or — or something?” asked Harold, a 
little anxiously, as they reached the Kennedy drive- 
way. 

She shook her head. 

‘‘ No, little boy,” she answered, with mock cheer- 
fulness. I’m going to practise, then I’m going to 
study my algebra, then I’m going to study my Latin, 
then I’m going to study my French, then I’m going 
to study my English history, then — ” 

''Good-by! ” laughed Harold, clapping his hands 
to his ears, and hurrying away. 

Unhesitating as was Genevieve’s assertion of her 
intentions, those intentions were not carried out, 
even to the practising, first on the list; for, in put- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


287 


ting down her books, Genevieve dropped some loose 
papers to the floor. The papers were some that had 
that day been returned by Miss Hart; and, as the 
girl gathered them up now, a sheet of note paper, 
covered with handwriting entirely different from 
her own, attracted her attention. 

She recognized the writing at once as that of 
Miss Hart, and she supposed at first that the paper 
must contain some special suggestions or criticisms 
in regard to her own work. With a quick frown, 
therefore, she began to read it. 

She had not read five lines before she knew that 
the paper did not contain criticism or suggestions. 
But so dazed, so surprised, and so absorbed was she, 
by that time, that she quite forgot that she was 
reading something most certainly never meant for 
her eyes to see. 

The paper was evidently the second sheet of a 
letter. The writing — fine, but plain — began close 
to the top of the first page, in what was apparently 
the middle of a sentence. 

speak freely, I am sure. 

“ Things are not getting any better, but rather 
worse. I cannot seem to win them. Of course I 
understood that my task would be difficult, follow- 
ing, as I did, two such popular teachers. I think, 
perhaps, that this very fact has made me nervous; 
and so — I have not appeared even at my best. 


288 SIX STAR RANCH 


But, oh, I have tried ! — you cannot know how I 
have tried! 

'' I am nearly sick with terror for fear I shall lose 
my position — and of course that doesn’t help me 
to be the cool, calm, judicious person in the chair 
I ought to be. But it means so much to me — this 
place — and if I should lose it, there would be poor 
Annie deprived of her comforts again; for, of 
course, a failure here would mean that not for a 
long time (if ever!) could I get another like it. 

Forgive me for burdening you with all this, 
but it had got to the point where I must speak to 
some one. Then, too, I did not know but you could 
perhaps tell me why I have failed — I have tried so 
hard myself to understand ! 

Sometimes I think I’m too lenient. Sometimes 
I think I’m too strict. Sometimes I’m so worried 
for fear they’ll think me too young and inexperi- 
enced, that I don’t dare to act myself at all — then 
I’m stiffly dignified in a way that I know must be 
horrid. 

After all, I think the whole secret of the matter 
is — that I’m afraid. If once I could have a con- 
fident assurance that I am doing well, and that I 
am winning out — I think I should win out. I do, 
truly ! 

“ And now I must stop and go to work. I’m in 
the grove, back of the schoolhouse. I often bring 
my papers here to correct. I have them with me 


SIX STAR RANCH 


289 


to-night ; but — Tve been writing to you instead 
of working. I’ll finish this later. But, really, al- 
ready I feel a little better. It’s done me good, just 
to say things to you. Of course, to no one else 
could I — ” 

There was a little more, but Genevieve stopped 
here. Not until she read that last sentence did she 
realize in the least what she was doing. Then, hur- 
riedly, with flushed cheeks and shamed eyes, she 
thrust the letter out of sight under the papers. But 
there was something besides shame in her eyes; 
there was a very real, and a very tender sympathy 
for — folks. 

‘‘ And to think that I — read it,” she breathed. 
Then, suddenly, she snatched up the papers again. 

But she mustn’t know — she mustn't know,” 
choked the girl. ‘‘ Maybe, if I run, I can get there 
in time and tuck it into her desk. I must get there 
in time,” she declared aloud, darting out of the 
house and up the street without once looking back 
toward an amazed Miss Jane, watching her from 
the window. 

As Genevieve hoped would be the case, the janitor 
had not finished his nightly duties. The great front 
door stood wide open, and Genevieve made short 
work of reaching her own room. As she opened 
that door, however, she paused in dismay. 

Miss Hart was in her chair. Her arms lay folded 


290 


SIX STAR RANCH 


on the desk before her, and her face was hidden in 
them. 

The knob under Genevieve’s nerveless fingers 
clicked sharply, and Miss Hart raised her head with 
a start. 

During the one brief moment that Genevieve 
gazed into her teacher’s startled eyes, wild plans 
raced through her mind : she would run ; she would 
go to her own desk and leave the papers, then des- 
troy the fateful letter to-morrow; she would walk 
up and hand the letter to Miss Hart now, and con- 
fess that she had read it ; she would — 

Why, Genevieve ! ” cried Miss Hart, a little 
huskily. “ Did you — forget something? ” 

“ No, Miss Hart; yes — well, I mean — it isn’t 
that I forgot exactly. I — I didn’t know,” she fal- 
tered, realizing more than ever the meaning of the 
letter she had just read, now that the wistful-eyed 
writer of it sat before her, bearing plain evidence of 
tears. 

“ Can I do anything for you ? ” Miss Hart asked. 

Genevieve went, then, straight to the desk. The 
papers — with the letter — were rolled tightly in 
one hand. 

No, Miss Hart, thank you; but — isn’t there 
something that — that I can do for — you ? ” she 
faltered. 

What happened next was, to Genevieve, cer- 
tainly, most disconcerting. Miss Hart gave one 


SIX STAR RANCH 291 


look into Genevieve’s eyes, then dropped her face 
into her hands and burst into tears. At Genevieve’s 
aghast exclamation, however, she raised her head 
determinedly and began to wipe her eyes. 

“ There, there, my dear,” she smiled brightly, 
winking off the tears. That was very foolish and 
very silly of me, and you must forget all about it. 
I was a little homesick. I’m afraid, and perhaps a 
bit blue ; and your eyes looked into mine so frankly 
and honestly, and with such a courageous ‘ I’ll-try- 
to-help-you ’ look, that — that — well, you know 
what I did. But come — let us talk no more of this, 
my dear! Let us get out of this stifling room, and 
into the blessed out-of-doors. We’ll go into the 
grove for a little walk. These four walls have been 
just smothering me all day! ” 

Genevieve opened wide her eyes. 

“ Why, do you feel that way — too ? ” she asked 
incredulously. 

Miss Hart colored a little. 

“ I’m afraid I do, my dear — though probably I 
ought not to have said just that — to you,” she 
sighed constrainedly. But — to tell the truth. 
I’ve never been able quite to see what houses were 
made for, I suspect, since I used to ask that ques- 
tion as a little girl. I imagine ’twas in summer, 
however, not winter, when I asked it,” she finished 
a little tremulously, as they passed through the hall 
to the outer door. 


292 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Once again Genevieve opened wide her eyes. 

“ Did you ask that — really? Why, Father says 
that was one of my questions, too,” she breathed 
rapturously. “ Why, you are — you are just 
like — ” with a little cough Genevieve choked off 
the folks ” before it was spoken. The word was 
“ me ” when it finally left her lips. 

It was a wonderful half-hour that Genevieve 
spent then in the grove. Over in the west the sun 
was low, and the shadows were long under the 
trees. The air was crisp, but not too crisp, if one 
were walking — and she and Miss Hart were walk- 
ing. They were talking, too. 

They talked of birds and beasts and flowers. 
They talked of school and study, and Latin lessons 
that were so hard to learn when the out-of-doors 
called. They talked of the days and lessons to 
come; and they spoke — at least, Miss Hart did — 
of what fine work Genevieve was sure to do before 
the year was through. They did not talk, however, 
of Miss Hart’s tears in the classroom, nor of Miss 
Hart’s letter still tightly clutched in Genevieve’s 
hand. 

Genevieve, however, had not forgotten the letter; 
and when she walked alone toward home, a little 
later, she wondered what she should do with it. To 
give it openly back to Miss Hart, she felt was not 
to be thought of; at the same time she doubted if 
in any other way she could return it to her now. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


293 


The letter certainly had already accomplished two 
things: never again would she so misjudge Miss 
Hart; never again, too, would she let the others 
so misjudge her, if she could help it — and she 
believed she could help it. She should try, cer- 
tainly. As for the letter — 

‘‘ Well, Miss,’" broke in Harold’s slightly ag- 
grieved voice behind her, is this the way you 
practise, and study your Latin and your French and 
your algebra and your English history ? ” 

Genevieve was too absorbed even to notice the 
taunt, much less to reply to it. 

Harold,” she sighed, '' I wish you’d tell me 
something.” 

‘‘Certainly! You have only to command me,” 
bowed the lad, with mock pomposity, as he fell into 
step with her. 

Genevieve was frowning. She did not even 
smile. 

“ Harold, if you had something that belonged to 
somebody else, and they didn’t know you had it 
and would feel dreadfully if they found out you 
had it, do you think you ought to give it back to 
them, and so let them know you had it, when all 
the time if they didn’t know you had it, they 
wouldn’t care at all ? ” 

“ W-w-well ! ” whistled Harold. “ Do you mind 
— er — giving me that again, now — say, in pieces 
a foot long this time? If I were Cordelia I might 


294 SIX STAR RANCH 


give you my answer right off the handle, but — Fm 
not Cordelia, you see/’ 

Genevieve laughed a little ruefully. 

There wouldn’t anybody know, of course, unless 
I told the rest; and I can’t tell the rest.” 

Maybe not,” smiled Harold, oddly; “but I’ll 
wager you’ll have to be telling something to Miss 
Jane pretty quick now. I saw you when you flew 
out of the yard an hour ago, and I fancy Miss Jane 
must have seen you, too. At any rate, she’s been 
to the door three times since, to my knowledge, to 
look for you.” 

Genevieve clapped her hand to her lips. 

“ Mercy ! I never thought to tell them a word. 
I just ran.” 

“ Yes, I noticed you — ran,” observed Harold, 
dryly. 

“ And they always want to know just where I 
am,” sighed Genevieve. “ O dear ! if you do some- 
thing bad in order to do something good, which is 
it — bad or good ? ” 

Harold shook his head. 

“ That’s not in mine, either,” he retorted whim- 
sically. “ Really, Miss, your questions on ethics 
this afternoon do you credit — but they’re too much 
for me.” 

“ Well, I reckon this one is for me,” sighed 
Genevieve again, as she came in sight of the house 
and saw Miss Jane Chick at the window. “ But the 


SIX STAR RANCH 


295 


other one — I know the answer to that. I shall 
burn it up/’ she said decisively, clutching even more 
tightly the roll of papers in her hand, as she turned 
in at the Kennedys’ front walk. 


296 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER XXII 

A TEXAS ‘‘ MISSIONARY 

October passed and November came. School 
was decidedly more bearable now, in the opinion of 
Genevieve, perhaps because it was a rainy month; 
but Genevieve preferred to think it was because of 
Miss Hart. It was strange, really, how much Miss 
iHart had improved as a teacher ! — all the school 
agreed to that. Even Tilly ceased to call her “ Hart- 
less.’^ 

Maybe she came in a jolly box, after all,” 
Harold said one day to Genevieve; but Genevieve 
tossed her head. 

Pooh ! She wasn’t in any box at all, Harold. 
She’s — folks!'' And Harold saw that, in spite of 
the lightness of her words, there were almost tears 
in Genevieve’s eyes. 

Presidential duties, too, were easier for Genevieve 
now. They proved to be, in fact, very far from 
arduous; and, as Tilly declared, they were, indeed, 

dreadfully honorable.” 

As correspondent for the school magazine Gene- 
vieve did not feel herself to be a success. She wrote 
few items, and sent in even fewer. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


297 


Those she did write represented hours of labor, 
however; for she felt that the weight of nations 
lay on every word, and she wrote and rewrote the 
poor Ifttle sentences until every vestige of natural- 
ness and of spontaneity were taken out of them. 
Such information as she could gather seemed al- 
ways, in her eyes, either too frivolous to be worth 
notice, or too serious to be of interest. And ever 
before her frightened eyes loomed the bugbear of 
PRINT. 

It was during the short vacation of three days at 
Thanksgiving time that Nancy, the second girl at 
the Kennedys’, came to the parlor door one after- 
noon and interrupted Genevieve’s practising. 

“ Miss Genevieve, I do be hatin’ ter tell ye,” she 
began indignantly, ‘‘ but there’s a man at the side 
door on horseback what is insistin’ on seein’ of ye ; 
and Mis’ Kennedy and Miss Jane ain’t home from 
town yet.” 

“ Why, Nancy, who is the man? ” 

‘‘ I ain’t sayin’ that I know. Miss, but I do say 
that he is powerful rough-lookin’ to come to the 
likes o’ this house a-claimin’ he’s Mis’ Granger’s 
cousin, as he does.” 

‘‘ Reddy ! Why, of course I’ll see Reddy,” cried 
Genevieve, springing to her feet. 

A minute later, to Nancy’s vast displeasure, Gene- 
vieve was ushering into the sitting room a sandy- 


298 


SIX STAR RANCH 


haired man in full cowboy costume from broad- 
brimmed hat and flannel shirt to chaparejos and 
high-heeled boots. 

Reddy evidently saw the surprise in Genevieve’s 
face. 

“ Yes, I know,” he smiled sheepishly, as Nancy 
left the room with slow reluctance, I reckon you’re 
surprised to see me in this rig, and I’ll own I hain’t 
wore ’em much since I came; but to-day, to come 
to see you, I just had to. You see. Miss Genevieve, 
it’s what this ’ere rig stands for that I want to see 
you about, anyhow.” 

'' About — this — rig ? ” 

Well, yes — in a way. It’s about the West.” . 

What is it?” 

“ It’s Martha — Mis’ Granger, my cousin. I want 
her to go back with me. She’s all alone, and so am 
I. And she’d come in a minute, but she’s — 
afraid.” 

‘‘ What of?” 

Reddy’s lips twitched. 

Indians and prairie fires and bucking bronchos 
and buffaloes. She thinks all of ’em run ’round 
loose all the time — in Texas.” 

Genevieve laughed merrily. 

The idea! Haven’t you told her they don’t? ” 

‘‘ Oh, yes ; and I’ve come to see if you won’t tell 
her.” 


« j!„ 


SIX STAR RANCH 


299 


“ Yes. She thinks Tm a man and rough any- 
how, SO I don’t count. Would you be willing to 
come and talk Texas to her? ” 

Why, of course I will,” cried Genevieve. I’ll 
come right away to-day, after I’ve finished my 
hour.” 

Thank you,” sighed Reddy, rising to his feet. 

Now I’ll hit the trail for Texas inside of a month 
— you see if I don’t ! What you say will go.” 

Oh, but don’t be too sure of that, Reddy,” 
frowned Genevieve, anxiously. 

‘‘I ain’t. I’m just sure — and that’s all right,” 
retorted Reddy, cheerfully. ‘‘ And mighty glad I 
shall be to get there, too! I’d be plum locoed here 
in another month. You see. I’ve got some money 
now, and I know a nice little place I can buy cheap, 
to start in for myself. Martha’ll take Jim Small’s 
girl, ’Mandy, for company and to help. You see 
we’ve got her already roped.” 

She wants to go, then ? ” 

Dyin’ to. It all depends on you now. Miss 
Genevieve.” 

‘‘ All right ; I’ll be there,” promised the girl, 
laughingly, as Reddy, watched by Nancy’s disap- 
proving eyes from the kitchen window, swung him- 
self into the saddle and galloped down the drive- 
way. 

A little later Genevieve met Mrs. Kennedy and 
Miss Chick at the foot of the front walk. 


300 SIX STAR RANCH 


Fve taken my music lesson and done my hour, 
and I’m off on missionary work now,” she beamed 
brightly. “ I knew you’d let me go, so I didn’t 
wait till you came home.” 

“Missionary work?” frowned Miss Chick. 

“Why, what do you mean?” questioned Mrs. 
Kennedy. 

Genevieve chuckled. 

“ It’s to teach Mrs. Granger that Texas has some- 
thing besides bucking bronchos and prairie fires. 
You see, Reddy wants to take her West, and she’s 
afraid. She thinks those things, and Indians and 
buffaloes, are all that grow there. So I’m going to 
tell her a thing or two,” she finished with a nod 
and a smile. 

Just how successful Genevieve was with her mis- 
sionary work perhaps she herself did not realize 
until nearly a fortnight later, when Cordelia Wil- 
son overtook her on the way to school one 
morning. 

“ Genevieve, Genevieve, please,” panted Cordelia. 
“ I want you to do some missionary work for me ! 
Will you?” 

Genevieve turned in surprise. 

“ ' Missionary work ! ’ What do you mean ? ” 

Cordelia laughed and colored. 

“ Well, it’s what you did for Mrs. Granger. 
Reddy told me. He said you called it missionary 
work — and that ’twas missionary work, too. You 


SIX STAR RANCH 


301 


know they’re to start next week, and they’re all so 
happy over it ! ” 

‘‘ Yes, I know,” nodded Genevieve; ‘‘ and I’m so 
glad ! ” 

“ So am I,” sighed the other, fervently. “ You 
see, Reddy being my find, so, I felt responsible; 
and of course I ought to feel that way, too. Just 
think — what if they weren’t happy over it ! ” 

‘‘ But they are,” smiled Genevieve. “ What’s the 
use of ‘ if-ing ’ a thing when it just is already? ” 

“ What? ” Cordelia’s eyes were slightly puzzled. 
“ Oh, I see,” she laughed. “ What a funny way 
you do have of putting things, Genevieve Hartley! 
Why don’t you say such things as that in your notes 
for the magazine ? ” 

“ In the magazine ? — mercy ! Why, Cordelia, 
they’re printed!” 

‘'Well, what of it?” maintained Cordelia. 

“What of what?” chirped a new voice; and 
Tilly Mack hurried up from behind them. 

Cordelia looked plainly disappointed; but Gene- 
vieve turned with a light laugh. 

“ My magazine notes, Tilly. Cordelia doesn’t 
like them,” she explained. 

“ Oh, but Genevieve, it’s only that I want you to 
write as you talk,” supplemented Cordelia, in dis- 
tress. 

“ Well, I don’t know. I’m sure — aren’t they 
true ? ” bridled Genevieve. 


302 SIX STAR RANCH 


'‘True!” giggled Tilly, suddenly. “Oh, yes, 
they’re true, just as ‘ c-a-t spells cat ’ is true — and 
they sound just about like that, too, Genevieve 
Hartley, and you know it.” 

“ Humph! I like that,” bridled Genevieve, again. 

“ Oh, Tilly, she writes lovely notes — you know 
she does,” championed Cordelia, almost tearfully. 

“No, I don’t write lovely notes,” disputed Gene- 
vieve, with unexpected frankness. “ They’re just 
like Tilly says they are, and they’re horrid. I do 
say ‘ c-a-t spells cat ’ every time — but I simply 
can’t seem to say anything else ! ” 

“ But why don’t you write as you talk ? ” argued 
Tilly. 

“Or as you do in the Chronicles?” added Cor- 
delia. “ You, write just beautifully there.” 

“ But, Cordelia, that isn’t printed'' cried Gene- 
vieve, again, as they came in sight of the school 
building and saw Elsie Martin coming to meet them. 

At the doorway of the classroom Cordelia whis- 
pered to Genevieve: 

“ Please wait after school for me. I’ll tell you 
then — about the missionary work, you know.” 
And Genevieve nodded assent. 

Once or twice during the day, Genevieve won- 
dered what Cordelia’s missionary work could be; 
but for the most part study and recitation filled her 
thoughts and time. Mid-year examinations were 
approaching, and, in spite of the fact that she had 


SIX STAR RANCH 


303 


been doing much better work for the last month, 
she felt by no means sure of herself for the dreaded 
ordeal. It was of this she was thinking when she 
met Cordelia according to agreement at the close 
of the short afternoon session. 

Here I am, dear,” she sighed; ''but, really, I 
reckon Fm the one that needs the missionary work 
if any one does — with those horrid exams looming 
up before me.” 

" Oh, but you’ve been doing such splendid work 
— lately ! ” cried Cordelia. 

" Thank you,” retorted Genevieve, wrinkling up 
her nose saucily at the pause before the " lately.” 
" I perceive you still know how to tell the truth, 
Miss!” 

" Genevieve ! ” protested Cordelia. 

" Oh, then you mean it wasn’t the truth,” ban- 
tered her friend. 

" Genevieve ! ” groaned Cordelia, hopelessly. 

" There, there, never mind,” laughed the other. 
" Come, we must be running along ; then you shall 
tell me all about this wonderful missionary work 
of yours. What is it? ” 

"Well, it — it’s about another of my — my 
finds.” 

" Oh, your lost people ? ” 

" Yes. It’s John Sanborn, Hermit Joe’s son, 
you know. He wants to go West and take his 
father.” 


304 


SIX STAR RANCH 


‘‘Well, can’t he? Or doesn’t his father want 
to? Maybe you want me to go and tell Hermit Joe 
not to be afraid of bronchos and buffaloes,” 
laughed Genevieve. 

A swift color stole into Cordelia’s face. 

“No; Hermit Joe wants to go.” 

“ Then what is it ? ” 

Cordelia laughed shyly. 

“Well, it — it’s a lady, Genevieve.” 

“ A lady ! Why, Hermit Joe and his son haven’t 
any — any women or cousins, have they?” 

“ No; but — but they want one,” admitted Cor- 
delia, a little breathlessly. 

Genevieve stopped short. 

“ Cordelia, what are you talking about ? ” she 
demanded. 

Cordelia laughed softly, but she grew suddenly 
very pink indeed, and she clasped her hands raptur- 
ously. 

“ I’ll tell you, Genevieve. I’ve been just longing 
to tell you, every minute. It’s the loveliest thing — 
just like a book! It seems Hermit Joe’s son, years 
ago, before he ran away, had a sweetheart. Miss 
Sally Hunt.” 

“ That little old maid on Hunt’s Hill ? She’s a 
dear, I think 1 ” 

“Yes; but she wasn’t old then, you know. She 
was young, and so pretty! She showed me her 
picture, once — how she looked then.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


305 


Yes, yes — go on ! ” 

Well, they were sweethearts, but they had a 
quarrel or something, and — anyhow, Mr. John 
Sanborn ran away.” 

“ How long ago ? ” 

“ Twenty years ; and now he’s back, and they’ve 
made everything all up lovely, and he wants to 
marry her and take her West.” 

“ Oh-h ! ” breathed Genevieve. It is just like a 
story ; isn’t it ? And didn’t it turn out lovely ! ” 

'' Y-yes, only it hasn’t turned out yet.” 

What’s the matter ? I thought you said they’d 
made it all up ! ” 

They have. She’ll marry him ; but she — she’s 
afraid of Texas, too, just as Mrs. Granger was, I 
guess.” 

Oh, I see,” cried Genevieve. “ Pooh ! We’ll 
fix that in no time,” finished the Texas “ mission- 
ary,” with confidence. 

‘‘ There, I knew you would,” sighed her friend, 
blissfully. You see, I specially wanted Miss 
Sally to be happy, because I couldn’t find — ” 
Cordelia caught herself up in time. She must not, 
of course, tell Genevieve about Sally Hunt’s lost 
brother whom she had failed to find. Well, you 
know, anyway, Sally Hunt is very poor,” she ex- 
plained hastily; '‘and everybody said, when we 
went to Texas last summer, that she’d have to go 
to the Poor Farm soon, if something wasn’t done. 


306 


SIX STAR RANCH 


So Fm specially glad to have her happy, and — 
Cordelia stopped, and turned to Genevieve with a 
new look in her eyes. 

‘‘ Genevieve, Fve just remembered,” she cried. 
‘‘ At the ranch last summer, when I was talking to 
Mr. Jonathan Edwards and didn’t know his name 
was ‘ Sanborn ’ — Fve just remembered that I told 
him about Miss Sally, and how she’d have to go to 
the Poor Farm. Genevieve, Fm sure — I just 
know that’s one reason why he came home ! ” 

'' Of course it was,” agreed Genevieve, excitedly; 
and we’ll go straight up there now, if Aunt Julia’ll 
let us; only — ” her face fell — ‘^Cordelia, when 
shall I get in my studying? ” 

“To-night, Genevieve; you must study to- 
night,” answered Cordelia, firmly. “ You mustn’t 
sacrifice your studies even for missionary work. 
Uncle always says it isn’t right to send money to 
the heathen when your own child is hungry; and 
Fm sure this is the same thing. Maybe we can go 
Saturday morning, though,” she finished hopefully. 

“ Fm sure we can,” declared Genevieve ; “ and 
Fm just as excited as I can be. I just love mission- 
ary work,” she exulted, as she waved her hand in 
farewell, at her street corner. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


307 


CHAPTER XXIII 

GENEVIEVE GOES TO BOSTON 

December was a busy month, indeed. To Gene- 
vieve it seemed actually to be one whirl of study, 
lessons, practice, and examinations, leaving^ oh, so 
little time for Christmas gifts and plans. 

A big box was to go to the Six Star Ranch, and 
a smaller one to Quentina. But, better than all, 
Mr. Jones was to have a letter from Mrs. Kennedy 
which would — Genevieve was sure — carry a 
wonderful happiness to Quentina. Mrs. Kennedy 
was to ask Mr. Jones to let Quentina come to Sun- 
bridge to school the next winter, and share Gene- 
vieve’s room, as Mrs. Kennedy’s guest. All other 
expenses, railroad fare, school supplies, and any 
special instruction, were to be met by Mr. Hartley 
through Genevieve herself. 

All this, of course, Genevieve had not brought 
about without many letters to Mr. Hartley, and 
many talks with Mrs. Kennedy and Miss Chick, 
wherein all sorts of pleadings and promises had a 
part. But it had been done at last, and the letter 
was to go in the Christmas box — but of all this the 
Happy Hexagons were not to know until the an- 


308 


SIX STAR RANCH 


swer from Mr. Jones came. Naturally, however, 
Genevieve could not keep all her attention on her 
studies that month, in spite of the coming examina- 
tions. 

There was, too, more than one visit to the gentle 
spinster on Hunt’s Hill before Genevieve quite suc- 
ceeded in convincing Miss Sally that there were 
places in Texas where wild Indians did not prowl, 
nor wild horses race neck and neck across vast 
deserts of loneliness. At last, however, she had 
the satisfaction of hearing from John Sanborn’s 
own grateful lips that everything was all right, 
and that the wedding day was set for April the 
tenth. 

In the midst of all this came the dreaded exam- 
inations, then the fearful waiting till the last day of 
school when the decision would be announced. The 
winter before, at these mid-year examinations, 
Genevieve had not passed. She had not forgotten 
the mortification of that tragedy, nor the weary 
weeks of study that had been necessary to enable 
her to go on with her class. So she, of all the girls 
now, was awaiting the verdict with special anxiety. 
Meanwhile, all the Happy Hexagons were spending 
every available minute on Christmas gifts. 

It was just a week before Christmas Day that 
Genevieve was surprised to receive a hurried after- 
school call from Cordelia. 

Genevieve — quick ! ” panted Cordelia, drop- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


309 


ping herself into the first chair she came to. “ Can’t 
we do something? We must do something! ” 

Of course we can,” laughed Genevieve, 
promptly; “ but — what about? ” 

Cordelia gave a faint smile. 

Yes, I know; I wasn’t very explicit,” she 
sighed. But, listen. You know — or maybe 
you didn’t know — but the Missionary Society 
have been packing a barrel to go West. They’re 
at the church this afternoon, packing it; but they 
didn’t have half enough, and they sent down to the 
parsonage to know if Aunt Mary hadn’t something 
more — some old clothes of the children’s, or old ' 
magazines, or anything. Auntie’s sick to-day with 
an awful cold, but she went up attic and hunted up 
all she could; then after I got home from school 
she asked me to take them down to the church.” 

Yes, go on,” prompted Genevieve, as Cordelia 
paused for breath. 

‘‘Well, I took them; and, Genevieve, what do 
you think ? ” — Cordelia’s voice was tragic — 
“ that missionary barrel was going to the Rev. 
Luke Jones, Bolo, Texas. Our Mr. Jones, — 
Quentina I ” 

“ Cordelia ! Really ? ” 

“Yes. You know they told us they got them 
from our church sometimes. And, Genevieve, it 
was awful — that barrel! It looked just like the 
other one, the one they got while we were there 


310 


SIX STAR RANCH 


that day — old shoes and dolls, and homely 
things ! ’’ 

“ Oh, Cordelia ! What did you do ? '' 

Cordelia drew in her breath with a little gasp. 

I don’t know. I talked. I said things — awful 
things. I know they were awful things from the 
looks of some of their faces. And at the last Mrs. 
Johnson — you know how she can be sometimes ! — 
she — she just snapped out : ‘ Very well, Miss Cor- 
delia, if you are not satisfied with what we have 
been able to procure after weeks of hard work, sup- 
pose you go out yourself and solicit gifts for your 
friends ! ’ And, Genevieve, I said I would. And I 
turned ’round and marched out. And now — now 
— what shall we do ? ” 

Genevieve sprang to her feet. 

“ Do? Why, we’ll do it, of course,” she cried. 

‘‘ But, Genevieve, I’m so scared. What if folks 
won’t give — anything? Those women worked 
weeks — they said they did — for what they’ve 
got! ” 

But folks will give,” declared Genevieve, with 
prompt confidence. '' Now wait. I’ll have to tell 
Aunt Julia where I’m going, then I’ll be back ready 
to start,” she finished, as she whisked out of the 
room. 

“ Oh, Genevieve, you’re always so comfortingly 
sure/’ sighed Cordelia to the door through which 
her friend had just sped. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


311 


During the next two hours Sunbridge, as repre- 
sented by many of its most staid and stately homes, 
• received the surprise of its life — a surprise that 
sent hitherto complacently contented women scurry- 
ing into attics and closets, and stirred reputedly 
miserly men into thrusting hands into inside 
pockets for spare bills. 

Perhaps it was the sight of the eager young faces, 
alight with generous enthusiasm. Perhaps it was 
the pathos of the story of one missionary barrel as 
told by girlish lips trembling with feeling. Per- 
haps it was just the novelty of receiving so direct, 
and so confident an appeal for something you’d 
like to have given to you, you know.” Perhaps it 
was a little of all three that worked the miracle. 
At all events, in the church parlor some time later, 
a little band of excited, marveling women worked 
until far into the evening packing a missionary 
barrel for the Rev. Luke Jones. And when it left 
their hands, there was in it the pretty dress for the 
minister’s wife, the unworn underclothing for the 
minister’s boys, the fresh hair-ribbons for the min- 
ister’s daughter, and the serviceable coat for the 
minister himself, to say nothing of uncounted 
books, games, and household articles of a worth 
and desirability likely to make a missionary minis- 
ter’s family exclaim with surprise and delight — 
until they found the generous roll of bills in the 
minister’s coat pocket, when they would be dumb 


SIX STAR RANCH 


sn 


with a great wave of reverent gratitude to a God 
who could make human hearts so kind. 

“ There ! ” sighed Genevieve, when she and Cor- 
delia had left their last parcels at the church door. 
“ I reckon we’ve got something different for that 
barrel now — but we’ll never let Quentina know, 
never — that we had a thing to do with packing it.” 

“No; but I guess she’ll suspect it, though,” re- 
turned Cordelia, with a teary smile. “ But, oh, 
Genevieve, didn’t they give just splendidly! ” 

“ I knew they would,” declared Genevieve, “ if 
they just understood.” 

“Well, then, I wish they’d — understand 
oftener,” sighed Cordelia, as she turned down her 
street. 

Two days later the Happy Hexagons were hold- 
ing a hurried meeting at the parsonage after school. 
It was the night before the last day of the term, 
and they were all trying to work at once on the 
sofa pillow they had planned to give Miss Hart. 
Cordelia was making the tassel for one corner, and 
Alma Lane one for another. The other two tassels 
were being sewed on by Elsie and Bertha. Tilly 
was writing the card to go with it, and Genevieve 
was holding the paper and ribbon with which to do 
it up. 

“ I’m going to do as Miss Jane does, next year,” 
sighed Genevieve, at last. 

“ And what does Miss Jane do?” asked Tilly. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


313 


“ Begins in January to get ready for Christmas. 
Now Tve got exactly seventy-nine and one things 
to do before next Tuesday — and to-day is Thurs- 
day.” 

“ You must have spent part of your valuable time 
counting them,” teased Tilly, to have figured them 
down so fine as that.” 

Seventy-nine and one are eighty,” observed 
Cordelia, with a little frown. Why didn’t you 
say eighty to begin with, Genevieve ? ” 

‘‘ Because she wanted to give your brain some- 
thing to do, too,” explained Tilly, wearing an ex- 
aggeratedly innocent air. 

‘"Tilly!” scolded Genevieve. But Tilly only 
laughed, and Cordelia forgot her question with the 
last stitch she put into her tassel. 

The pillow was given to Miss Hart the next day, 
and, apparently, made the lady very happy. Nor 
was Miss Hart the only one that was made happy 
that day. Genevieve, and in fact, all the Happy 
Hexagons, together with O. B. J. Holmes and 
nearly all the rest of the class, knew before night 
that they had “ passed ” — which is no small thing 
to know, when for days you have worried and for 
nights you have dreamed about the dreadful alterna- 
tive of a contrary verdict. 

With Miss Jane Chick, Genevieve went to Bos- 
ton shopping, Saturday, coming back tired, but 
happy, and all aglow with the holiday rush and 


314 


SIX STAR RANCH 


color of the crowded streets and stores. On Sun- 
day came the beautiful Christmas service, which 
Mr. Wilson made very impressive. Certainly it 
touched Genevieve’s heart deeply, as she sat by 
Mrs. Kennedy’s side and listened to it. It seemed 
so easy to Genevieve, at that moment, always to be 
good and brave and true — always to be thoughtful 
of others’ wishes — never to be heedless, careless, or 
impulsively reckless of consequences ! 

It was snowing when she left the church, and it 
snowed hard all the afternoon and until far into the 
night. Genevieve awoke to look out on a spotlessly 
white, crystal-pure world, with every ugly line and 
dreary prospect changed into fairylike beauty. 

Oh — oh — oh, isn’t it lovely ! ” she exclaimed, 
as she came into the dining-room that morning. 
“ Don’t I wish Quentina were here to see it — and 
to talk about it ! ” 

We’ll hope she will be some day,” smiled Mrs. 
Kennedy. 

Anyhow, ‘ Here’s Miss Jane at the window- 
pane ’ all ready for her,” chanted Genevieve, mer- 
rily, her eyes on the tall figure in the bay window. 

Miss Jane turned with a sigh. 

** Yes, it’s very lovely, of course, Genevieve — 
but I must confess it isn’t lovely to me this morn- 
ing.” 

“ Why, Miss Jane ! ” 

‘‘ I had planned to go to Boston. In fact it seems 


SIX STAR RANCH 315 


as if I must go. But I have waked up with a sore 
throat and every evidence of a bad cold; and Fm 
afraid I don’t dare to go — not with all this new 
snow on the ground and dampness in the air.” 

Couldn’t I go, Miss Jane? I was going to ask 
to go, anyway. I find there are three more things 
I want to get, and I know I can’t find them here.” 

But you have never been to Boston alone, my 
dear.” 

“ I suppose everybody has to have a first time,” 
laughed Genevieve; and Fm not a mite afraid. 
Besides, I know the way perfectly, all through the 
shopping district; and all I have to do then is just 
to take the car for the North Station and the 
train home. I reckon I know how to do that 
all right!” 

Miss Jane frowned and shook her head slowly. 

“ I know ; but — I hate to let you do it, Gene- 
vieve, only I — it seems as if I must go myself I ” 

Mrs. Kennedy looked up reassuringly. 

Indeed, Jane, I am inclined to think Genevieve 
can go all right,” she smiled. “ She has been to 
Boston now many times, you know.” 

“ There, Miss Jane ! ” crowed Genevieve, tri- 
umphantly. ''You see! Please, now,” she begged. 

Miss Jane still frowned — but a look of almost 
reluctant relief came to her eyes. 

" Very well,” she conceded slowly. " Perhaps, 
my dear, I will let you go for me, then.” 


316 


SIX STAR RANCH 


“ Oh, thank you, Miss Jane — besides, there are 
several things I want for myself.” 

“ Very well, dear. I have three things that must 
be changed, and there are two that I want you to 
buy. It seems so absurd — when I began last Janu- 
ary — that there should be anything to be done 
to-day; but, unfortunately, some of my plans had 
to be changed at the last moment. You may get 
ready at once after breakfast, please, then come to 
my room. I’ll have the list all made out for you. 
You’ll have to bring everything home, of course, 
but they are not very heavy, and you can carry 
them all in the large hand bag, I think. You’d 
better take the nine-four train.” 

It was not quite half-past ten when Genevieve 
arrived in the great Boston station that morning. 
She glanced importantly at her pretty little watch, 
took a firmer hold on the large leather bag she car- 
ried, and stepped briskly off toward her car. 

It was delightful — this independent feeling of 
freedom. Even to pay her fare and to signal the 
conductor to stop were Events. Shopping, all by 
herself, was even more delightful; so she dallied 
over every purchase and every exchange as long as 
she could — and it was not hard to dally, with the 
crowds, the long waits, and the delays for change. 

At one o’clock, when in state she ate her luncheon 
at a pretty white table in a large department-store 


SIX STAR RANCH 


317 


dining-room, she had not half finished her task. 
She was so glad there was still so much to do! 
But at four o’clock, when she did finish, she looked 
at her watch with faintly troubled eyes. She had 
not, indeed, realized that it was quite so late. She 
remembered, too, suddenly, for the first time, that 
Miss Chick had told her to come back early. She 
wondered — could she catch the four-twenty train ? 

Stores and sidewalks were a mass of surging, 
thronging humanity now, and progress was slow 
and uncertain. When, at ten minutes past four, 
she had not succeeded even in reaching her car for 
the station, she gave up the four-twenty train. 
Well, there was one at five-fifteen, she comforted 
herself. She could surely get that. 

The streets were darkening fast, and lights were 
beginning to flash here and there, finding a brilliant 
response in tinsel stars and crystal pendants. With 
the Christmas red and green, and the thronging 
crowds, it made a pretty sight; and Genevieve 
stopped more than once just to look about her with 
a deep breath of delight. It was at such a time 
that she saw the small ragged boy, and the still 
smaller, still more ragged girl wistfully gazing 
into the fairyland of a toyshop window. 

I choose the fire engine, the big red one,” she 
heard a shrill voice pipe ; and she looked down to 
see that it was the boy’s blue lips that had uttered 
the words. 


318 


SIX STAR RANCH 


I d-druther have that d-doll/’ chattered the 
mite of a girl ; “ an’ that teeny little bedstead an’ 
the chair what rocks, an’ the baby trunk, an’ the 
doll with curly hair, an’ — ” 

Gee ! look at the autymobile,” cut in the boy, 
excitedly. “ Say, if I had that — ” 

Well, you shall have it, you poor little mite, — 
or one just like it,” cried Genevieve impulsively, 
sweeping the astonished children into the circle of 
her arm, and hurrying them into the store. 

They did not get the “ autymobile ” nor yet the 
engine nor the big doll. Genevieve selected them, 
to be sure, with blithe promptness; but when she 
took out her purse, she found she had not half 
money enough to pay for them, which mortified 
and disappointed her greatly. 

Dear, dear ! ” she laughed, blushing painfully. 

I’m afraid I can’t manage it, after all, chicka- 
biddies. That horrid money of mine has given out ! 
I bought more things than I meant to, anyhow. 
Never mind, we’ll get all we can,” she cried, empty- 
ing her little purse on the counter, even shaking it 
to make sure no lurking penny stayed behind. 
“ There, you’ll have to make that do,” she said to 
the amazed clerk behind the counter. Just please 
give them whatever you can for that.” And the 
clerk, counting out one dollar and eighty-three 
cents, obeyed her literally. 

A few minutes later, two dazed, but blissfully 


SIX STAR RANCH 


319 


happy children clasping in their arms a motley array 
of toys, and a laughing, bright-faced girl with a 
tan leather bag, joined the hurrying throng on the 
street. 

Good-by, chickabiddies, and good luck to you,” 
called Genevieve, waving her hand in farewell to 
the children, as she spied her car in the dis- 
tance. 

Poor little midgets ! ” thought Genevieve, as she 
stepped on to the car ; I don’t think now they 
really believe they’ve got those things. But I do 
wish I could have bought all those first things they 
selected ! ” A moment later she took out her purse 
to pay her fare. 

The conductor, coming toward her just then, saw 
her face turn red, then white. The next minute she 
was on her feet, hurrying toward him. 

Fare, please,” he said mechanically, holding out 
his hand. 

She shook her head. 

''I — I don’t want this car,” she stammered 
faintly. If you’ll — stop, please.” A moment 
later she rushed blindly through the door and down 
the steps to the street. 

Genevieve was thoroughly angry, and very much 
ashamed. 

“ Now I reckon I’ve done it,” she muttered half 
aloud. '' No wonder they say I never stop to think ! 
Seems to me I might have thought to save a nickel 


320 


SIX STAR RANCH 


for my car-fare, though ! Never mind, Til walk it. 
Serves me right, anyhow, I reckon ! ” And deter- 
minedly she turned toward a woman near her and 
asked the way to the North Station. 

It would be something of a walk, the woman said, 
as she gave directions; but Genevieve declared she 
did not mind that. Very courageously, therefore, 
she turned a corner and began to thread her way 
among the crowd. 

She was laughing now. This thing was some- 
thing of a joke, after all. Still, she was rather 
sorry it had happened — on Miss Jane’s errand. 
She would be late home, too. ( She pulled aside the 
lapel of her coat and glanced at her watch.) Five 
o’clock, already! It would be late, indeed, if she 
could not catch the five-fifteen! Still, there must 
be other trains, of course, and it took only an hour 
and twenty minutes to go — 

Genevieve stopped with a little cry of dismay. 
She remembered now that she had used the last of 
the commutation tickets. Miss Jane had told her 
to get a single-fare ticket for the return trip. And 
now — pray, how was one to buy any sort of fare 
without any money? 

A hurrying man jostled her, and Genevieve 
stepped into a doorway to think. Across the street 
a blue-bell-sign caught her attention, and sent a 
swift light to her eye. 

Why, of course ! She would telephone for Aunt 




SIX STAR RANCH 


321 


Julia to send Nancy or somebody in with some 
money. Why had she not thought of it before? 

She had pushed her way half across the crowded 
street when it occurred to her that she needed money 
to pay the telephone toll. 

I never saw such a place ! It takes money to 
do everything! I just hate cities,” she stormed 
hotly — then jumped just in time to escape the 
wheels of a swiftly-moving automobile. 

Safely back in the doorway, she tried to think 
once more. Then, slowly, she began to retrace her 
steps toward the corner from which she had started. 

The crowds were just as gay, the Christmas reds 
and greens just as brilliant, and the tinsel stars and 
crystal pendants were just as sparkling; but Gene- 
vieve did not even look at them now. She was 
tired, ashamed, and thoroughly frightened. The 
bag, too, began to seem woefully full, and her 
stomach correspondingly empty. 

Curiously enough, after a time, the Christmas 
service of the day before rang in her ears. It 
seemed so far away now. And yet — it was only 
yesterday that she had been promising herself never 
again to be thoughtless, heedless, or impulsively 
reckless of consequences. And now — 

Suddenly she almost smiled. She was thinking 
of her question to Harold : 

‘‘ If you do something bad to do something good, 
which is it, good or bad ? ” 


S22 SIX STAR RANCH 


One by one the minutes passed. It grew darker 
and colder. At times Genevieve walked on aim- 
lessly. At others, she stood one side, watching the 
crowds, hoping to find some man or woman whom 
she could dare to ask for money. But her cheeks 
burned at the thought, and she never saw the man 
or woman whom she wanted to ask — for money. 
That the blue-coated man at the street-crossing 
might help her, never occurred to Genevieve. 
Genevieve knew policemen only as vaguely dread- 
ful creatures connected with jails and arrests. 

In time it came to be quite dark. Genevieve won- 
dered what would become of her — by midnight. 
People did not starve or die, she supposed, in Bos- 
ton streets — not when the streets were as bright 
as these. But she must get to Sunbridge. Sun- 
bridge f How worried they must be about her now 
in Sunbridge, and how she wished she were there! 
She would be glad to see even Miss Jane’s severest 
frown — if she could see Miss Jane, too! 

It was six o’clock when Genevieve suddenly re- 
membered Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Butterfield. She 
wondered then how it was possible that she had for- 
gotten them so long. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Butterfield were two 
friends of Mrs. Kennedy’s not very far from sixty 
years old. They lived in a quaint old house on Mt. 
Vernon Street, on top of Beacon Hill — Genevieve 
thought she remembered the number. She remem- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


323 


bered the house very well, for she had called there 
twice with Mrs. Kennedy the winter before. 

It was with a glad little cry that Genevieve now 
turned to the first woman she met and asked the 
way to Mt. Vernon Street. 

In the somber Butterfield dining-room on Mt. 
Vernon Street, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Butterfield 
had almost finished dinner, when their pompous, 
plainly scandalized butler, standing beneath the 
severest of the severe Butterfield portraits, an- 
nounced stiffly: 

There’s a young person at the door, ma’am, 
with a bag. She says she knows you, if you’ll see 
her, please.” 

One minute later, the astonished Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas Butterfield caught in their arms a white- 
faced, almost fainting girl, who had sobbed out : 

“ Please, won’t you give me a little money and 
some supper, and telephone to Aunt Julia! ” 

Seven minutes later Mr. Thomas Butterfield had 
Mrs. Kennedy at the other end of the wire. 


324 


SIX STAR RANCH 


CHAPTER XXIV 

A BROWN DRESS FOR ELSIE 

Christmas, for Genevieve, was not a happy time 
that year; and when the day was over she tried to 
forget it as soon as possible. 

She had stayed all night with the Butterfields — 
which had not been unalloyed joy ; for, though they 
obviously tried to be kind to her, yet they could not 
help showing that they regarded her sudden appear- 
ance among them, dinnerless and moneyless, as 
most extraordinary, and certainly very upsetting 
to the equanimity of a well-ordered household. 

In the morning she went back to Sunbridge. At 
the house she found Miss Chick ill. Her cold, and 
her fright over Genevieve, had sent her into a high 
fever; and Mrs. Kennedy was scarcely less ill her- 
self. 

Certainly it was not exactly a cheerful Christmas 
Day for the one whose heedlessness had brought it 
all about. But Genevieve mourned so bitterly, and 
blamed herself so strongly, that at last, out of sheer 
pity, Mrs. Kennedy, and even Miss Jane Chick, 
had to turn comforter; for — as Mrs. Kennedy re- 
minded her sister — it was, after all, aside from her 


SIX STAR RANCH 


325 


thoughtless lack of haste, only Genevieve’s unselfish 
forgetfulness of her own possible wants that led to 
the whole thing. Then, and not until then, did 
Genevieve bestow some attention upon her Christ- 
mas presents, of which there were a generous num- 
ber. 

Fortunately no one outside the house had known 
of Genevieve’s nonappearance that Christmas Eve, 
so she was spared any curious questions and inter- 
ested comments from others of the Happy Hexa- 
gons. 

The short Christmas vacation sped rapidly. The 
young people spent much of it on the river, skating, 
when the ice was good. Genevieve, it is true, was 
not often seen there. Genevieve was playing nurse 
these days, and so devotedly attentive to Miss Jane 
Chick was she, that both the ladies had almost to 
scold her, in order to make her take needed exercise. 
Even Harold Day reproached her one morning, 
when he met her coming from the post-office. 

You don’t let any of us see anything of you — 
not anything,” he complained. “ And you look as 
if you were doing penance, or something — you’ve 
got such a superior expression ! ” 

Genevieve dimpled into a sudden laugh. 

“ Maybe I am,” she retorted. Maybe I did 
something bad so I could do something good; and 
now I’m trying to do enough good to take out all 
the taste of the bad.” 


326 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Well, what do you mean by that, Miss Mys-^« 
tery?” M 

She would not tell him. She only shook her head ^ 
saucily, and ran into the house. 

By New Year’s Day Miss Jane seemed almost | 
like her old self, and Genevieve was specially happy, 
for on that night Harold Day gave the first dance ;; 
of the season; and, with Miss Jane better, and her 
own heart lighter once more, she could give her- ■ ^ 
self up to full enjoyment of the music, fun, 
and laughter. 

All the Happy Hexagons were there, together 
with O. B. J. Holmes, Charlie Brown, and many. 
other of the young people, including even Tilly 
Mack’s big brother, Howard, who — though quite .4 

twenty-one — was a prime favorite with the Happy * 

Hexagons. ] 

Genevieve was wonderfully happy that evening. j 
Never had the music sounded so entrancing; never i 
had her own feet felt so light. With Harold she j 

“opened the ball,” as Tilly airily termed it; then j 

Charlie and O. B. J. had their turn. j 

“ Oh, Genevieve, you do look just too sweet for | 
anything in that pale pink,” panted Elsie, stopping | 
at her side between dances. 

“ Not any sweeter than you do in that white,” ! 
tossed back Genevieve, affectionately. ; 

Elsie sighed. 

“ I love this white, too, but it’s got kind of fraz- j 


SIX STAR RANCH 


327 


zled now. Aunt Kate says she is going to make 
over Fannie’s brown silk for Miss Sally’s wedding,” 
she went on, sighing again. 

Fm sure that will be nice,” rejoined Genevieve, 
with hasty politeness. 

Y-yes,” admitted Elsie; only brown sounds 
kind of hot for April. Still, I suppose I ought not 
to mind. Just one girl wore it, anyhow, so it’ll be 
faded even, and I sha’n’t look like two folks in it,” 
she finished wistfully, as Howard Mack came up to 
claim his dance with Genevieve. 

It was three days after the party that there came 
a letter from Mr. Jones in reply to Mrs. Kennedy’s 
Christmas note. It was a very grateful letter, but 
it was a disappointing one. It said that Mr. Jones 
did not see how he could let Quentina accept the 
kind invitation of Mrs. Kennedy and Genevieve. 
All the way through it, very plainly was shown the 
longing of a man who desires advantages for his 
daughter, and the pride of one who cannot bear 
that outsiders should give them to her. 

Mrs. Kennedy saw this — and wrote another let- 
ter. In due time came the answer ; and again Gene- 
vieve almost cried with disappointment. But Mrs. 
Kennedy smiled and comforted her. 

‘‘Yes, he says ‘no,’ I’ll admit, Genevieve; but 
I don’t think it’s quite so strong a ‘ no ’ as it was 
before. One of these days I think I’ll write Mr. 
Jones another letter, my dear — but not just now. 


328 


SIX STAR RANCH 


We’ll let him think a little — of how good it would 
have been for Quentina if he’d said ‘ yes.’ ” 

Genevieve gave Mrs. Kennedy a big hug. 

Aunt Julia, you’re a dear, and a veritable Solo- 
mon for wisdom. I’m going to write at once to 
the President, too. Your place is in the diplomatic 
service. I’m sure,” she finished, as she danced from 
the room. 

As January passed and February came, a new 
subject came uppermost in the thoughts of the 
Hexagon Club. For the first time in years there 
was to be a prize contest in the Sunbridge High 
School. The principal, Mr. Jackson, was to give a 
five-dollar gold piece to the writer of the best essay, 
subject to be chosen by the author. 

Well, I sha’n’t try for it,” announced Tilly on 
a Saturday afternoon late in February, as the Hexa- 
gon Club were holding their regular meeting at the 
parsonage. 

Why not ? ” asked Elsie. 

Because I don’t like defeat well enough,” re- 
torted Tilly. “ Imagine me winning a prize con- 
test!” 

“ Oh, I shall try,” almost groaned Cordelia. I 
shall always try for things, I suppose, till I die. I 
think I ought to; but of course I sha’n’t win it. 
Dear me ! how I would love to, though,” she cried, 
almost under her breath. 

Genevieve, looking at her momentarily illumined 


SIX STAR RANCH 


329 


face, was conscious of a sudden fierce wish that Cor- 
delia might win that prize. 

“ Genevieve, of course, will try,’’ she heard Tilly’s 
teasing voice say, then. “ Genevieve loves to 
write, so ! ” 

Genevieve turned with a laugh, and an uptilted 
chin. 

** I take it. Miss Mack, that your very compli- 
mentary remarks refer to my magazine notes; but 
just let me assure you that this prize essay is quite 
another matter. That isn’t printed! '' 

‘‘Then you are going to try? — of course you 
are,” interposed Bertha. 

Genevieve laughed lightly as she reached for a 
piece of fudge. 

“ I suppose so. I’m afraid everybody will expect 
me to. Aiint Julia has already expressed her 
opinion of the matter.” 

February passed, and March came. A new topic 
of conversation now arose, specially of interest to 
the Hexagon Club. Miss Sally was to be married 
early in April, and the Happy Hexagons were to be 
bridesmaids. Naturally, even the new prize con- 
test had to step one side for that month, in the 
minds of the six joyously excited girls. 

It was on a particularly windy Saturday toward 
the end of the month, that Cordelia literally blew 
up to the Kennedys’ front door and rang the bell. 


330 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Genevieve herself, passing through the hall, 
opened the door. 

“ Br-r-r ! ’’ she laughed, as she banged the door 
shut after admitting the whirling draperies from 
which Cordelia’s anxious little face finally emerged. 
‘‘Why, Cordelia!” 

“ Yes, I know; I’m going to be at the club this 
afternoon, of course,” panted Cordelia ; “ but this 
is for something I wanted to say to you — and I 
knew there wouldn’t be a chance this afternoon. 
It — it’s private, Genevieve.” 

“ Good 1 I love secrets. Come into the sitting 
room. There’s no one there this morning. Now, 
what is it ? ” she demanded, as soon as Cordelia’s 
coat was off, and they were comfortably seated. 

“It — I suppose you might call it missionary 
work, Genevieve,” smiled Cordelia, wistfully. 

More missionary work? Who in the world 
wants to go to Texas now? ” laughed Gene- 
vieve. 

“ Nobody. It isn’t Texas at all. It’s — Elsie.” 

“ Elsie!” 

“ Yes. Of course, dear, I don’t know as you can 
do anything; but you’ve done so many things, and 
I’m sure if you could, it would be missionary work 
of the very nicest kind.” 

“ What are you talking about ? ” 

Cordelia drew a long sigh. 

“ I’ll tell you. You know the rest of us brides- 


SIX STAR RANCH 331 


maids are all going to wear white, but — but Elsie’s 
got to wear Fannie’s brown silk.” 

I know,” nodded Genevieve. Elsie told me.” 

‘‘But, Genevieve, just think — brown silk for a 
bridesmaid at a wedding, when all the rest of us 
wear white! Besides, Elsie says brown is so hot- 
looking for April. She feels awfully about it.” 

“ Can’t she do something ? I should think she’d 
tell her aunt.” 

“ She has. But her aunt doesn’t seem to under- 
stand. She says that the brown silk is whole and 
good, and far too valuable to throw away; and 
that it’s all just Elsie’s notion that she’d rather 
wear white.” 

“ Oh, but if she’d only understand ! ” 

“But that’s just it — she doesn’t understand. 
And it isn’t as if they were poor,” argued Cordelia, 
earnestly. “ Now auntie has to make over things, 
of course, for me and for Edith and Rachel, and we 
expect it, and don’t mind. We’re all glad to be 
economical and help out, for we know it’s neces- 
sary. But it’s different with Elsie. She says she 
wouldn’t mind so, if they were poor and had to. 
But the Gales are real well off — Fannie and the 
twins have lots of new clothes. Poor Elsie says 
sometimes it seems as if her aunt actually bought 
things for them, so she could make them over for 
her. Elsie says she’s never so happy as when she’s 
doing it, and that she makes a regular game of it 


332 


SIX STAR RANCH 


— cutting them out and putting them together — 
like picture puzzles, you know.” 

Genevieve laughed, though she frowned, too. 

But what can I do ? ” she demanded. ‘‘ I tried, 
once, to — to lend Elsie a dress ; but she was hor- 
rified.” 

‘'Mercy! Of course she was,” shuddered Cor- 
delia. “ I don’t know what Mrs. Gale would do if 
she knew that ! They’re fearfully — er — er — 
proud, I suppose you call it,” hesitated the conscien- 
tious Cordelia. 

“ But what can I do ? ” 

“ I don’t know ; but don’t you suppose you could 

— could say something, somehow, to Mrs. Gale 
that — that would make her understand ? ” 

“ Why, Cordelia Wilson, of course I couldn’t,” 
gasped Genevieve, indignantly. “ A pretty picture 
I’d make going to Mrs. Gale and saying : ‘ Madam, 
why don’t you give your niece a new dress when 
you know she wants one ? ’ ” 

“ N-no, I suppose you couldn’t do that, of course,” 
sighed the other. “ Very likely you couldn’t do 
anything, anyway. It’s only that I thought — well, 
I knew you were going home with Elsie after school 
Monday night to study; and I didn’t know but 
you’d get a chance to say something. But I sup- 
pose, after all, there won’t be anything you could 
say.” 

“No, I suppose there won’t,” echoed Genevieve, 


SIX STAR RANCH 


still plainly appalled at the task Cordelia had set 
for her. 

“ Well, it’'S only that I was so sorry for Elsie,'' 
sighed Cordelia, as she rose to go. 

Of course ! I reckon we’re all sorry for Elsie," 
sighed Genevieve in her turn. 

And she was sorry. All the rest of the morning 
she kept thinking how very sorry she was; and 
when afternoon came, and when she saw Elsie’s lips 
quiver and her eyes fill with tears, as the others 
happily discussed whether they would wear colored 
sashes or white belts with their white dresses, Gene- 
vieve's heart quite overflowed with sympathy for 
Elsie. And she wondered if, after all, it were pos- 
sible to make Elsie’s aunt — understand. Deter- 
minedly, then, she declared to herself that, regard- 
less of consequences, she would try — if she had the 
opportunity. 

Genevieve's opportunity came very soon after 
she arrived at Elsie’s home Monday afternoon. 
Even Genevieve herself had to admit that she could 
not have had a better one. But so frightened was 
she that she wished — for a moment — that there 
were none. Then before her rose a vision of Elsie’s 
tear-dimmed eyes and quivering lips — and with a 
quick-drawn breath Genevieve rose and followed 
Mrs. Gale to the sewing-room. 

Come with me,” Mrs. Gale had said to Gene- 
vieve — Genevieve had picked up a scrap of brown 


334 


SIX STAR RANCH 


silk from the floor. ‘‘ That’s a piece of the dress 
Fm making for Elsie to wear to the wedding. The 
silly child has got a notion she wants white, but 
you’ll think this is pretty, I’m sure.” And it was 
then that Genevieve knew her opportunity had 
come. 

In the sewing-room Mrs. Gale proudly spread 
the silk dress over a chair-back. 

‘‘ There ! What do you think of that ? ” she de- 
manded. 

Genevieve's heart beat so loudly she thought Mrs. 
Gale must hear it. 

“ It — it’s very pretty, isn’t it ? ” she stammered, 
wetting her dry lips and wondering what good it 
did to say that. 

“ Pretty? Of course it is. It’s silk, and a fine 
piece — I thought when I got it how splendidly it 
would make over. I’m sure any girl ought to be 
proud to wear it ! ” 

Genevieve caught her breath sharply. Proud ” 
— Mrs. Gale had said ‘‘ proud ” ; and Cordelia had 
said, that morning, that Mrs. Gale herself was very 
proud, and that she would be very angry if she 
knew that Genevieve had offered Elsie a dress to 
wear. In a flash of inspiration, then, came a wild 
plan to Genevieve’s mind. If only she had the au- 
dacity to carry it out ! 

She wet her lips again, and took desperate hold 
of her courage. Even as she did so, she almost 


SIX STAR RANCH 


335 


smiled — she was thinking: was this another case 
when she was doing something bad to do something 
good? Never mind; she must go through with it f 
now. She must! 

Yes, it is a very pretty dress, indeed,’’ she stam- 
mered; and it was Fannie’s, too, wasn’t it? ” 

Mrs. Gale beamed. 

‘‘Yes! — and didn’t I get it out finely? You 
know sleeves are smaller, so that helped, and the 
breadths were so full last year! I think I never 
got a dress out better,” she finished proudly. 

Genevieve touched the folds lightly. 

“ And this isn’t faded at all, is it ? ” she mur- 
mured pleasantly. 

“ What? ” Mrs. Gale’s voice was a little sharp. 

Genevieve wet her lips twice this time before she 
could speak. 

“ I say, isn’t it nice that this one isn’t faded ? 
You know Elsie had such a time with that chambray 
last summer ! ” 

" What do you mean, please ? ” There was no 
doubt now about the sharpness in Mrs. Gale’s 
voice. 

Genevieve managed a laugh — but it was not a 
very mirthful one. 

“ Why, ’twas so funny, you know ; it was made 
from the twins’ dresses, and they weren’t faded 
alike. It was just as Elsie said — she didn’t know 
whether to turn Cora or Clara toward folks. It 


336 SIX STAR RANCH 


was funny ; only, of course it did plague poor Elsie 
awfully, and I felt so sorry for her.” 

You felt sorry — sorry for my niece? The 
voice was so very angry this time that Genevieve 
trembled. She was sure now that it was bad — this 
thing she was doing — that good might come. But 
she kept bravely on. 

“ Why, yes, of course ; all of us girls were sorry 
for her. You know Elsie does so love new dresses, 
and of course she doesn’t have them very often. 
Last summer, when she was feeling so bad over her 
chambray, I — I offered her one of mine, but — ” 

‘‘ You — you offered my niece one of your 
dresses ? ” gasped Mrs. Gale. 

“Yes, but she wouldn’t take it; and, of course, 
that wasn’t new, either,” finished Genevieve, with 
what she hoped would pass for a light laugh as she 
turned away. 

Behind her, for a moment, there was an ominous 
•silence. Then a very quiet voice said : 

“ Thank you ; but I hardly think my niece needs 
one of your dresses — yet. Miss Genevieve.” 

Genevieve fled then, ashamed, and very near to 
crying. 

“ I wouldn’t have said it, of course,” she whis- 
pered to herself as she stumbled back to the sitting- 
room ; “ I wouldn’t have said it if the Gales had 
been poor and couldn't have given Elsie new things 
to wear once in a while ! ” 


SIX STAR RANCH 337 


In the Chronicles of the Hexagon Club a fort- 
night later, it was Elsie Martin who wrote the ac- 
count of Miss Sally’s wedding. She wrote as fol- 
lows : 

** I had a beautiful white dress for Miss Sally’s 
wedding — a brand-new one. All of us girls wore 
white and looked so pretty — I mean, the rest 
looked pretty, of course. Miss Sally was married 
the tenth of April. It was quite a warm day, and I 
was so glad I did not have to wear my brown silk. 
Aunt Kate says I needn’t wear it anywhere if I 
don’t want to — and after all her work, too ! S 
don’t know what has got into Aunt Kate, anyway, 
lately. She doesn’t seem half so interested in 
making over things, and I have three other brand- 
new dresses, a pink-sprigged muslin, and — but, 
dear me ! This isn’t telling about Miss Sally’s wed- 
ding one bit. 

She was married at four o’clock, and looked too 
sweet for anything in light gray silk with a pink 
carnation in her hair. Everybody went, and wore 
their best things and looked very nice. We had 
sandwiches and chicken salad and olives and three 
kinds of cake and ice cream for refreshments. The 
ice cream was the brick kind, different colors, like 
lovely striped ribbon. 

‘‘ At six o’clock they started for Boston to begin 
their journey West, and we all stood on the steps 
and gave them a lovely send-off with rice and old 


338 


SIX STAR RANCH 


shoes. Just at the last minute Tilly says, ' Let's 
give her our Texas yell, and end with Miss Sally,’^ ' 
and we did. And everybody laughed and clapped' 
But not until the carriage drove off did we suddenly 
remember that she wasn’t ‘ Miss Sally ’ at all any 
more, and we felt ashamed. 

And that’s all — except that Miss Sally’s going- 
away gown was gray, too.” 


SIX STAR RANCH 


839 


CHAPTER XXV 

“ WHEN SUNBRIDGE WENT TO TEXAS ” 

By the first of May many of the papers for the 
new prize contest had been turned in. Genevieve’s, 
however, had not. Genevieve was working very 
hard on her essay now. For some time she had not 
found a subject that suited her. Good subjects were 
not very plentiful, she decided. At last she had 
thought of the Texas trip, and had wondered if she 
could not compare Sunbridge with Texas. Aunt 
Julia and Miss Jane had thought decidedly that she 
could. So for some days now, she had been hard at 
work upon the paper, and was getting enthusias- 
tically interested. 

All papers must be in by the sixteenth. It was 
on the tenth that Cordelia, during a recess meeting 
of the Hexagon Club, drew a long breath and 
turned upon her fellow members a beaming coun- 
tenance. 

Girls, I can’t keep it a minute longer. I’ve got 
to tell you ! ” 

‘‘ Tell us what? ” asked Tilly. ‘‘ It must be some- 
thing pretty fine to bring that look to your face ! ” 


340 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Cordelia laughed and blushed; but she sighed, 
too. 

Oh, it isn’t ‘ fine,’ Tilly, at all. I wish it were, 
though — but really, I do think it’s the best thing 
I ever did, anyway.” 

What are you talking about, Cordelia Wilson ? ” 
demanded Genevieve. 

Mercy 1 It must be pretty good if it’s the best 
thing Cordelia ever did,” teased Bertha. 

“ Girls, stop,” begged Cordelia, in real distress. 

I — I hate to tell you now ; it sounds so foolish. 
It’s only — my prize paper. It’s all done. I’m go- 
ing to hand it in Monday, and — and I was so 
pleased with the subject! ” 

‘‘ Oh, Cordelia, what is it? You know what mine 
is,” cried Elsie. 

‘‘ It’s — ‘ When Sunb ridge went to Texas,’ ” an- 
nounced Cordelia, breathlessly. 

“ When — what ? ” cried Genevieve, almost 
sharply. 

Cordelia turned a happy face. 

** I knew you’d like it, Genevieve,” she nodded. 
“ It’s our trip, you know. I’ve told all about it — 
comparing things here to things there, you see.” 

“ Why — but, Cordelia, that’s — ” Genevieve 
paused abruptly. The pause in her sentence was 
not noticed. The girls were all talking now, beg- 
ging Cordelia to tell them if they were ‘‘ in it.” 

“ When — when did you choose your subject, 


SIX STAR RANCH 


S41 


Cordelia? ” asked Genevieve, very quietly, when she 
could be heard. 

Not until the first of May. I just couldn’t 
seem to get anything. Then this came all of a sud- 
den, and — and it just seemed to write itself, it was 
done so quickly. You see I didn’t have to look up 
this subject.” 

Genevieve’s face cleared. It was all right, after 
all. She had selected the subject a whole week be- 
fore Cordelia — and of course Cordelia would 
understand. 

“ Oh, but Cordelia, that isn’t quite fair,” she 
began impulsively; but for once Cordelia forgot 
her politeness and interrupted. 

“ Don’t you worry, Genevieve, ” she laughed 
gayly. I’ve said lovely things of Texas. You’d 
know I’d do that, Genevieve, even if I do love 
Sunbridge. I did worry at first for fear somebody 
else had taken the same subject — some of you 
girls — ^ you know we can’t have two about the 
same thing.” 

‘‘ But — ” The bell rang for the close of recess, 
and again one of Genevieve’s sentences remained 
unfinished. 

Genevieve did not stop even to speak to any of 
the girls after school that day. She went home at 
once. Even Harold Day, who overtook her, found 
her so absorbed in her own thoughts that she was 
anything but her usual talkative self. 


342 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Once in the house, Genevieve went straight to 
Mrs. Kennedy. 

Aunt Julia, if you get a prize subject first, it’s 
yours, isn’t it ? ” she asked tremulously. 

“Why, y-yes, dear; I should think so.” 

“ Well, Aunt Julia, something perfectly awful 
has happened. Cordelia has got my subject.” 

“Oh, Genevieve, I’m so sorry!” Mrs. Ken- 
nedy’s face showed more than ordinary distress — 
Mrs. Kennedy had had high hopes of this prize 
paper. “ Why, how did it happen ? ” 

“ I don’t know. I suppose it was just in the air. 
But / got it first. She says she didn’t think of it 
till May first. So of course it’s — it’s mine. Aunt 
Julia.” 

Mrs. Kennedy looked very grave. 

“ I think the rules of the contest would give it 
to you, Genevieve,” she said. 

The girl stirred restlessly. 

“ Of course I’m awfully sorry. She — she was 
going to hand it in Monday.” 

“ Oh, that is too bad ! ” 

There was a long silence. 

“ I suppose I — I’ll have to tell her,” murmured 
Genevieve, at last. “ The club have a ride to-mor- 
row. There’ll be time — then.” 

“ Yes — if you decide to do it.” 

Genevieve turned quickly. 

“ But, Aunt Julia, I’ll have to,” she cried. 


SIX STAR RANCH 343 


‘'Just think of all my work! Mine’s all done but 
copying, you know. And I was the first to get it. 
There’s no time to get another now.” 

"No, there’s no time to get another — now.” 
Aunt Julia looked even more sorrowful than Gene- 
vieve just then — Aunt Julia had wanted Genevieve 
to take that prize. 

" I’m sure that Cordelia — when she knows — ” 
Genevieve did not finish her sentence. 

"No, indeed! Of course, if Cordelia should 
know — ” Aunt Julia did not finish her sentence. 

" But, Aunt Julia, she’ll have to know,” almost 
sobbed Genevieve. 

There was a long silence. Genevieve’s eyes were 
out the window. Mrs. Kennedy, watching her, sud- 
denly spoke up with careless briskness : 

" Of course you’ll tell Cordelia that ’twas your 
subject, that you got it first, and that you want it. 
Very likely she won’t care much, anyway.” 

" Why, Aunt Julia, she will! If you could have 
seen her face when she talked of it — ” Genevieve 
stopped abruptly. Genevieve did suddenly see Cor- 
delia’s face as it had been that afternoon, all aglow 
with happiness. She heard her eager voice say, 
too : " I think it’s the best thing I ever did ! ” 

" Oh, well, but maybe she doesn’t care for the 
prize,” observed Mrs. Kennedy, still carelessly. 

"But, Aunt Julia, she does; she — ” Again 
Genevieve stopped abruptly. She was remember- 


344 


SIX STAR RANCH 


ing now how Cordelia’s face had looked that Febru- 
ary afternoon at the parsonage when she had said : 

Of course I sha’n’t win it — dear me, how I would 
love to, though ! ” 

'' But she’ll understand, of course, when you tell 
her it’s your subject and that you want it,” went on 
Mrs. Kennedy, smoothly. Genevieve did not see 
the keen, almost fearful glances, that Mrs. Ken- 
nedy was giving her between the light words. 

I know ; but that sounds so — so — ” There 
was a long pause; then Genevieve, with a quiver- 
ing sigh, rose slowly and left the room. 

Mrs. Kennedy, for some unapparent reason, 1 
smiled — but there were tears in her eyes. 1 

The Hexagon Club took a long ride the next | 
day. Five of them talked again of Cordelia’s paper, i 
and four begged Cordelia to tell what she had said 
about them. If Genevieve, alone, was unusually 
silent, nobody, apparently, noticed it. They were 
riding by themselves to-day. They had invited 
none of the boys or other girls to join them. j 

It was when the ride was over, and when Gene- ! 

vieve had almost reached the Kennedy drive- | 

way, that she said wistfully, stroking the mare’s i 
neck : ; 

“Topsy, I just couldn’t. I just couldn’t! It - 

sounded so — so — And, Topsy, you couldn’t, if I 

you’d seen how awfully happy she looked ! ” • 

“What did Cordelia say?” asked Mrs. Ken- | 


SIX STAR RANCH 


345 


nedy, when Genevieve came into the house a little 
later. There was no hint in the lady’s voice of the 
hope that was in her heart. 

‘‘I — I didn’t tell her, Aunt Julia,” stammered 
Genevieve. Then, with a playful whimsicality that 
did not in the least deceive Aunt Julia’s ears, she 
added : ‘‘ Who wants that old prize, anyhow ? 

It was a beautiful smile, then, that illumined 
Aunt Julia’s face, and it was a very tender kiss that 
fell on Genevieve’s forehead. 

‘‘ That’s my brave Genevieve — and I’m sure 
you’ll never regret it, my dear ! ” she said. 

May passed, and June came, bringing warm, 
sunny days that were very tempting to feet that 
were longing to be tramping through green woods 
and fields. Examinations, however, were coming 
soon, and Genevieve knew that, tempting as was 
the beautiful out-of-doors, studies must come first. 
Every possible minute, however, she spent in rides, 
walks, and tennis playing — even Miss Jane in- 
sisted that she must have exercise. 

June brought not only alluring days, however, 
but a letter from Quentina, which sent Genevieve 
flying into Mrs. Kennedy’s room. 

“ Aunt Julia, did you write again to Mr. Jones? ” 
I did,” smiled Mrs. Kennedy, and I have a 
letter from him to-day.” 

You darling! Then you know, of course! Oh, 


346 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Aunt Julia, isn’t it lovely! I just can’t wait till to- 
morrow to tell the girls.” 

Genevieve did wait, however — she waited even 
till the morning recess. She wanted all the Happy 
Hexagons together; and when she had them to- 
gether she told them the astounding news in one 
breathless rush of words. 

“ Girls, Quentina’s coming next year to school. 
She’s going to room with me. Isn’t it lovely I ” 

There was a chorus of delighted questions 
and exclamations; but Genevieve lifted her 
hand. 

“ Sh-h ! Listen. I’ve got her letter here. You 
must hear it ! ” and she whipped open the letter 
and began to read : 


Oh — oh — It isn’t true — it can’t be true ! 
But father says it is, and father doesn’t lie. I’m 
to go to Sunbridge. Sunbridge! I think Sun- 
bridge is the loveliest name in the world — for a 
town, I mean, of course. 

“ Dear Genevieve : — There 1 this is actually 
the first minute I could bring myself to begin this 
letter properly. Really, a thing like this can’t just 
begin, you know ! And to think that I’m going to 
see Paul Revere’s grave and Bunker Hill and you 
just next September! Oh, how can I ever thank 
you and dear Mrs. Kennedy? I love her, love her, 
love her — right now ! And all the Happy Hexa- 


SIX STAR RANCH 


347 


gons — I love them, too. I love everybody and 
everything — I’m going to Sunbridge ! 

‘‘ All day I’ve been saying over and over to my- 
self that song in the ‘ Lady of the Lake,’ only I’ve 
changed the words a little to fit my case ; like this : 

** ‘ Quentina, rest! thy longing o’er, 

Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking; 

Dream of Texas schools no more, 

Days of longing, nights of sighing 
For Paul Revere’s enchanted land. 

Hands unseen thy days are planning, 

Fairy strains of music faUing 
Every sense is up and calhng, 

Quentina, rest! thy longing o’er. 

East thy steps will turn once more.’ 

That ‘ more ’ is poetry, but a fib ; for of course 
I haven’t been East at all yet. But that’s just poetic 
license, you know — fibs like that. 

Oh, I just can’t wait for September! 

Your happy, happy 

Quentina.” 

“ My, but won’t she be a picnic when she gets 
here?” chuckled Tilly, as soon as she could stop 
laughing long enough to find her voice. 

^‘What in the world is the matter with you 
girls ? ” demanded Charlie Brown, sauntering up to 
them, arm in arm with O. B. J. Holmes. 


348 


SIX STAR RANCH 


Tilly turned merrily. 

Matter ! I guess you’ll think something is the 
matter when Quentina Jones gets here,” she laughed. 

Who is Quentina Jones? ” 

“ She is a new girl who is coming to school next 
year,” explained Elsie. 

“ She’s from Texas, and she’s never been East 
before,” chimed in Bertha. 

Yes, and as for you, Mr. Obejay Holmes,” 
teased Tilly, just you wait! There’s no telling 
what she will do with your name ! ” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

O. B. J. spoke to Tilly, but he threw a merry 
glance into Genevieve’s understanding eyes. 

Nothing, only she’s a regular walking rhyming 
dictionary, and I can just fancy how those mysteri- 
ous initials of yours will fire her up. My poor little 
‘ O Be Joyful ’ won’t be in it, then. You’ll see! ” 

I don’t worry any,” laughed O. B. J. Holmes, 
with another merry glance at Genevieve. 

“ You don’t have to,” interposed Genevieve, 
promptly. “ Quentina is everything that is sweet 
and lovely, and you’ll all like her ; I know you will,” 
she finished, as the bell rang and the boys turned 
laughingly away. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


349 


CHAPTER XXVI 

A GOOD-BY PARTY 

The June days sped so rapidly that Genevieve 
wondered where they went, sometimes. School was 
to close the twenty-third. Mr. Hartley was to ar- 
rive on the twentieth. Meanwhile examinations and 
the prize contest were uppermost in every one’s 
thoughts. Graduation exercises were to come in 
the evening. The winner of the prize was to be 
announced at that time, also. 

And really, you know, the announcement of 
the prize-winner is all we care about specially,” 
Elsie said one day, in the presence of a group of 
her friends on the schoolhouse steps. 

‘‘ Just you wait till you graduate,” laughed back 
Bertha’s brother, Charlie, and then I guess the 
evening exercises will be of some consequence.” 

Of course — but that won’t be till two years 
from now,” cried Genevieve. 

‘‘ Then you girls will be thinking more of frills 
and furbelows than you will of prizes,” laughed 
Harold Day. 

‘‘ I’ve got a new white dress for Graduation 
night,” said Elsie in a low voice to Genevieve, “ and 


350 


SIX STAR RANCH 


I don’t believe I could have a prettier one, even 
then.” 

“Another new white dress?” demanded Tilly, 
who had heard the aside. “ Why, Elsie Martin, you 
had one for Miss Sally’s wedding ! ” 

Elsie laughed happily. 

“ I know — but this is a muslin. Aunt Kate 
seemed to want me to have it — and of course I’d 
love to have it, myself ! ” 

Genevieve, for some reason, looked suddenly 
very happy, so much so that Harold, watching her, 
said quietly a minute later: 

“ Well, young lady, what’s gone specially right 
with your world to-day ? ” 

Genevieve laughed and blushed. She shook her 
head roguishly. Then suddenly she rejoined: 

“ I reckon one of my awfully bad things has 
turned out all good — that’s all ! ” 

True to his word, Mr. Hartley came on the 
twentieth. He was to be Mrs. Kennedy’s guest 
until the start for Texas after school had closed. 

“ My, dearie ! how fine and tall we are growing,” 
he greeted his daughter affectionately. “ Looks like 
Mr. Tim and the boys won’t know you. I’m think- 
ing! ” 

“ Nonsense ! Of course they will — and I 
can’t hardly wait to see them, either,” cried Gene- 
vieve. 


SIX STAR RANCH 


351 


It is doubtful if, on Graduation night, Cordelia 
Wilson herself listened to the announcement of the 
prize-winner any more anxiously than did Gene- 
vieve. It seemed as if she could not bear it — after 
what had happened — if Cordelia did not get the 
prize. And Cordelia got it. 

When Sunbridge went to Texas,’ ” read Mr. 
Jackson, Cordelia Wilson.” And it was Gene- 
vieve who clapped the loudest. 

Cordelia, certainly, was beatifically happy. And 
when Genevieve saw her amazed, but joyously happy 
face, she wondered why she should suddenly want 
to cry — for, surely, she had never felt happier in 
her life. 

Graduation day, for the Happy Hexagons, was 
not, after all, quite the last meeting together; for 
Mrs. Kennedy gave Genevieve a porch party the 
night before she was to start back to Texas with 
Mr. Hartley. 

A very merry crowd of boys and girls it was that 
sang college songs and told stories that night on 
the Kennedys’ roomy, electric-lighted veranda. 

It seems just as if I couldn’t have you go away,” 
sighed Cordelia, at last, to Genevieve. 

“ But I’m coming back next year.” 

“Mercy! We couldn’t stand it if you weren’t,” 
cried Tilly. 

“And just think — last year we all went back 
with you,” murmured Elsie. 


352 SIX STAR RANCH 


I wish you were going this year/’ declared 
Genevieve. 

‘‘ I guess you aren’t the only one that wishes 
that,” cut in several longing voices. 

“ Well, we’ll take you all now — if you’ll go,” 
retorted Genevieve, merrily. 

All — did you say? ” challenged Harold Day. 

Yes, all,” nodded Genevieve, emphatically. 

We’d be glad to have you, every one of you.” 

Well, I begin to think you would — now that 
I’ve seen Texas,” sighed Tilly. “ But I suppose we 
shall have to content ourselves till you come back 
this time.” 

** And this wonderful little rhyming dictionary, as 
Miss Tilly calls her — does she come back with 
you?” asked O. B. J. Holmes. 

Maybe. She comes next fall, anyway, before 
school begins,” smiled Genevieve. 

“ Well, what I want to know is, if you are going 
to do any more Texas' missionary work,” suggested 
Charlie Brown. 

Pooh ! She doesn’t do that there — she does 
that here,” cut in Tilly. 

** There isn’t any more to do, anyway,” declared 
the exact Cordelia, happily. ‘‘ She’s got everything 
fixed even down to Elsie’s — ” She stopped just 
in time, but already Genevieve had interposed hur- 
riedly : 

“ Oh, but it wasn’t I that did anything. It was 


SIX STAR RANCH 


353 


Cordelia. She found them to begin with, you know 
— Reddy, and Hermit Joe’s son.” 

Mrs. Kennedy and Miss Jane, together with 
Nancy appeared just then with great plates of ice 
cream and delicious cake; and after that, all too 
soon, came the time for good-nights. The good- 
nights were not quite finished, however, until at the 
foot of the walk, five members of the Hexagon Club 
turned, and all together gave their Texas yell with 
a lusty Genevieve at the end that brought the 
tears to the real Genevieve’s eyes. 

Texas, Texas, Tex — Tex — Texas! 

Texas, Texas, Rah! Rah! Rah! 

GENEVIEVE! ” 

Mercy ! What will the neighbors say — at this 
time of night! ” protested Miss Jane Chick, feebly; 
but her eyes, too, were moist. 


THE END. 


I 



I 

I 

t 

i 

•i 




1 






POLLYANNA GROWS UP 

THE SECOND GLAD BOOK 


Author of " Pollyanna. The QLAD Book.” ” Mu» Billy,” 

T rad c M ark 

** Miss Billy's Decision.” ** Miss Billy — Married.” ” Cross Currents,” 
“ The Turn of the Tide,” etc. 


When Eleanor H. Porter wrote her wonderful story of 
POLLYANNA and the glad game she created an absolutely 
new character in American fiction. Under the inspiration of 
POLLYANNA, who was the su ‘ 
optimists, people everywhere bej 
the game that brings contentm 
When the story of POLLYA 
Book was ended a great cry of r« 
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Now POLLYANNA appears ag 
hearted, more grown up and moi 

The new story opens with PO] 
but she is in Boston amid a brand 
new incidents and new experienc< 
deals with her romance, for, of co 
ing in the background. 

“ Take away frowns 1 Draw i 
down the worries 1 Stop fidgetii 
blingl Cheer up everybody! 
back !” — Christian Herald, 







The third volume in the ANNE trilogy 

A NNE OF THE ISLA ND 

’ A Sequel to “ Anne of Green Gables 
and “ Anne of Avonlea ” 

L. f^ontgomery 

Author also of “The Story Girl,” “The Golden Road,” etc. 

yi 

/ 2mo, cloth decorative, with a frontispiece in full color, decorative 
jacket, ^et $ / . 25 ; carriage paid $ / . 40 

S 

The “irresistible” Anne Shirley of Green Gables and 
Avonlea fame — the very Anne whom Mark Twain 
called “ the dearest and most moving and delightful 
child of fiction ” — has come back ; this time in a story 
which tells of her life at Redmond College, with its new 
friendships and interests; of the long pleasant summer 
vacations spent “ back home ” with Marilla and the 
twins and the simple-hearted folk of the Island; and 
last of all of the romance which creeps into her life 
“like an old friend through quiet ways.” This is a 
story which will be read eagerly because it is true and 
happy and full of a clear, kind, wholesome, northern 
simplicity and is, moreover, decidedly “Anne-ish.” 

“ Here are standards which have not been confused or 
broken. Stalwart character, strength of will, intellec- 
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in life. Laughter and happiness and health are accom- 
paniment of good life which is normal life. Something 
like this is the interpretation of Miss Montgomery’s 
work as a story writer, which is at the same time an 
interpretation of her wonderful Island,” writes Miss 
Marjorie MacMurchy in the Book News Monthly. 





THE CRIMSON GONDOLA 

Nathan Gallizier 

Author of **Castel del Monte,” “The Sorceress of Rome,” “The 
Court of Lucifer,” “The Hill of Venus,” etc. 

» 

/ 2m0t cloth decorative, illustrated in full color hy Edmund H. 

Qarrett. tNet $1.35; carriage paid $ 1 .50 

The setting of this new romance is at the time of the 
great tension between Venice ind Constantinople, which 
culminated in the ^fourth Crusade and the Latin conquest 
of Constantinople. 

The story concerns itself with the fortunes and ad- 
ventures of Audran de Vere while in Constantinople — 
the most romantic city in the world — on a mission to 
take the Lady Eleanor of Montferrat from the witches’ 
cauldron of the Greek capital. Audran’s infatuation for 
the beautiful Empress Euphrosyne, which creates an 
immediate breach between himself and the object of his 
mission; the strife of the factions; the rivalry between 
the Greek Empress and the Lady of Montferrat; the 
intrigues of John the Armenian, who aspires to the hand 
of Euphrosyne and the throne; the scenes in the crypts 
of the Tower of Angelus, in the Vampire Castle at 
Hadrianople, and in the palace of the Armenian, where 
Eleanor is held captive; the storming of Constantinople 
by the Venetians; the tragic fate of Euphrosyne and 
the Armenian; and the appearance of a Crimson Gon- 
dola — the funeral barge of Venice — in the channel of 
the Golden Horn are marked incidents of this compelling 
story. 

** The author displays many of the talents that made 
Scott famous.” — The Index, 






TH E PROVING OF VIRG INIA 

A Sequel to “ The Fiddling Girl 

(By Daisy Rhodes Campbell 


!2mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, net $l .25 ; 
carriage paid $1.40 


This new story continues the career of Virginia Hammond 
and takes “ The Fiddling Girl ” through three years of college 
life, at the end of which time she expects to go abroad to study 
music under a famous violin teacher. When Virginia is about 
to graduate from college and plans are made for the wonderful 
life in Paris, a sudden lessening of her wealthy aunt’s income 
prevents the realization of Virginia’s hopes. But this dissap- 
pointment does not dampen her ambition to study abroad and 
she sets to work in characteristic fashion to obtain the necessary 
funds. 

An advance opinion on the manuscript : “ Just a line to tell 
you that the book is finished. It is great 1 I have been so 
interested in it ! After I started reading the story I couldn’t 
put it down until it was finished. I think THE PROVING 
OF VIRGINIA far ahead of THE FIDDLING GIRL — 
and that certainly was a charming and uplift story — which is 
saying much for the new book.” 




C8»:a»»:8C8»:83£a»»:o: 


Selections from 
The Page Company’s 
List of Fiction 


WORKS OF 

ELEANOR H. PORTER 

POLLYANNA: The GLAD Book ( 290 , 000 ) 

Trade Mark 

Cloth decorative, illustrated by Stockton Mulford. 

Net, $1.25 ; carriage paid, $1.40 
Mr. Leigh Mitchell Hodges, The Optimist, in an editorial 
for the Philadelphia North American, says : “ And when, 
after Pollyanna has gone away, you get her letter saying she 
is going to take ‘ eight steps ’ to-morrow — well, I don’t know 
just what you may do, but I know of one person who buried 
his face in his hands and shook with the gladdest sort of sad- 
ness and got down on his knees and thanked the Giver of all 
gladness f^or Pollyanna.” 

The Glad Book Calendar 

Tnuie "“Mark 

THE POLLYANNA CALENDAR FOR 1915 

Printed in colors . . N et, %i. 00 carriage paid, %i.iS 

“When you read Pollyanna you registered a resolve that 
henceforth and forever you would play the ‘ Glad Game ’ 
every day of your life. And you meant it, too, but some- 
times you forget and you waver in your resolve. For just 
such backsliders as you a perpetual reminder has been evolved. 
It is a Pollyanna Calendar. There is^ a like message of 
cheer on every page, and the calendar iS beautifully illus- 
trated.” — Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Mo. 

CROSS CURRENTS 

Cloth decorative, illustrated . . . . . • $1.00 

“To one who enjoys a story of life as it is to-day, with its 
sorrows as well as its triumphs, this volume is sure to appeal.” 
— Book News Monthly. 

THE TURN OF THE TmE 

Cloth decorative, illustrated $i^S 

“ A very beautiful book showing the influence that went to 
the developing of the life of a dear little girl into a true and 
good woman.” — Herald and Presbyter, Cincinnati, Ohio. 


a 


THE PAGE COMPANrS 


WORKS OF ELEANOR H. PORTER {Continued) 

MISS BILLY (13th Printing) 

Cloth decorative, with a frontispiece in full color from a 
painting by G. Tyng . . . . . . . $1.50 

“ There is something altogether fascinating about ‘ Miss 
Billy,’ some inexplicable feminine characteristic that seems 
to demand the individual attention of the reader from the mo- 
ment we open the book until we reluctantly turn the last 
page.” • — Boston Transcript. 

“ The book is a wholesome story, as fresh in tone as it is 
graceful in expression, and one may predict for it a wide 
audience.” — Philadelphia Public Ledger. 

“ Misls Billy is so carefree, so original and charming, that 
she lives in the reader’s memory long after the book has been 
laid aside.” — Boston Globe. 

MISS BILLY’S DECISION (loth printing) 

Cloth decorative, with a frontispiece in full color from a 
painting by Henry W. Moore. 

Net, $1.25; carriage paid, $1.40 
“The story is written in bright, clever style and has plenty 
of action and humor. Misis Billy is nice to know and so are 
her friends.” — 'New Haven Times Leader. 

“The author has succeeded admirably in repeating so de- 
lightful a character and in making her the heroine of so many 
interesting and amusing adventures.” — The Springfield Union. 

MISS BILLY — MARRIED (8th printing) 

Cloth decorative, with a frontispiece in full color from a 
painting by W. Haskell Coffin. 

Net, $1.25; carriage paid, $1.40 
“ Although Pollyanna is the only copyrighted glad girl. 
Miss Billy is just as glad as the younger figure and radiates 
just as much gladness. She disseminates joy so naturally 
that we^ wonder why all girls are not like her.” — Boston 
Transcript. 

“_No one can come within the charmed circle of Miss Billy’s 
radiant personality without a vast increase of good cheer, of 
insistent optimism and outgoing unselfishness. She is one of 
the vital characters that vitalize everyone.” — Christian En- 
deavor World. 

THE SUNBRIDGE GIRLS AT SIX STAR RANCH 

By “ Eleanor Stuart.” 

Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 

“ The book is one that will be enjoyed by all girls, being one 
of the brightest of its kind.” — New York Sun. 

“The happiest, the healthiest and the most natural book for 
fifirls that has ever been written.” — Boston Herald. 

606 





















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